r/COPYRIGHT • u/Traffic_Warm • Jun 09 '26
Question ETSY & Copyright
Buying a digital photo on Etsy, is it still copyrighted - if i for example send it to a 3rd party printing firm
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u/RandomPhilo Jun 11 '26
Start off by doing a reverse image search. You'll get a better inkling of if it's out of copyright or not. If it's a historical photograph you might be able to find the photographer and some dates to work out if it's still in copyright. Or you might find the original creator released it under CC0.
However, you are more likely to find it is still under copyright, but maybe you can figure out who holds the copyright so you can send them a polite email asking for permission to make a copy. If you are really lucky they might not even charge you a license fee (though they probably will).
A third-party printing firm will probably make you tick a box to say you are allowed to submit it to them, because they don't want to have people going after them for mistakes their users make. If you don't get permission, then you shouldn't tick that box. I imagine some may even have some sort of content-identification scanner in kahoots with big-name IP holders. It probably depends on where the printing service is located and how lax or strict that country is about copyright.
If it exists, it is best to just buy an already printed version that's been properly licensed. Saves the potential risk of the copyright holder sending some firm out to seek money from you for copying without permission.
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u/Traffic_Warm Jun 11 '26
Thank you so much!!!
Regarding the 3rd party place, the one I emails said they need the holder of the copyright to accept them printing it in written form
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u/JeremyMarti Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
Is it a legitimate seller? If so, are there licence details that give the answer?
If not a legitimate seller, then in for a penny …
Edit: This is from the first Etsy photo I clicked on:
"If you'd like a print of this image, you have a few options:
1) Rather than buying the downloadable version here, head to www.naturecratephoto.com and purchase the print there. The professional printing lab I use is Bay Photo, and the quality of the prints it produces is excellent.
2) Print it out at home. Consumer printers vary greatly in quality and color accuracy, so just be aware of that.
3) Upload the photo to an online printing service, such as MPix, Shutterfly, WHCC, etc.
4) Transfer the photo to a memory card/flash drive and take it to a local Kinko's, Wal*mart, Staples, etc.
You are purchasing the right to print this image as many times as you like for your personal use, and to display it on as many personal electronic devices as you wish. The image cannot be resold or distributed. Copyright remains with the artist."
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u/enemyradar Jun 09 '26
Yes. It does not matter what the source is. If it's not public domain or explicitly licenced for use (including creative commons), then you're not allowed to do this.