In plain language
Etsy's Intellectual Property Policy does not allow listings that use someone else's trademark without permission. That covers titles, descriptions, tags and images. Listings reported by a rights owner are usually removed, and repeated reports can lead to suspension.
Etsy's Intellectual Property Policy asks every seller to respect other people's trademarks. A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design that tells buyers who makes a product. Using someone else's trademark to describe or sell your item without permission, even when your product is only "inspired by" the brand, puts the listing at risk of an infringement report and removal.
Trademark and copyright are different. Copyright protects creative works such as artwork, characters and text, and is usually enforced through DMCA notices. Trademark protects brand names and logos, and is enforced through trademark infringement reports. Etsy accepts both kinds of report through its intellectual property reporting process.
Rights owners do: large companies such as Disney, Nike or Warner Bros., and also individual creators and small brands. Etsy reviews each report and removes listings that it finds infringing.
You don't need to copy a logo to infringe. These are common examples:
When Etsy acts on a report, it removes the listing and tells you which rights owner filed it. Etsy keeps track of infringement reports against a shop, and repeated reports can lead to the shop being suspended. If you believe a report is mistaken, Etsy explains how to respond, for example with a counter notice for copyright reports.
Disclaimers such as "not affiliated with Disney" don't make an infringing listing acceptable, and calling a commercial product "fan art" doesn't either. The reliable route is a licence from the rights owner, or an original design that doesn't rely on their brand.
This is a summary, not legal advice. Etsy's official policy page is the authoritative source.
Read on EtsyHow to tell an unfair review from a policy violation, when and how to report it, how to respond publicly in a way that reassures future buyers, and the review rules sellers must never break themselves.
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A practical, section-by-section checklist for Etsy listings: whether the item is allowed, how it is made and described, title, tags, description, photos, pricing, shipping and shop details. Run it in a few minutes per listing.
Vetsy scans titles, descriptions and tags for patterns tied to Etsy's rules, and explains each risk in plain language.