How to report a copy of your artwork in a Shopify store

You cannot always tell from the address, since many shops use their own domain. If you are unsure, look for the platform's name in the page footer or on the checkout page. If the shop is not on Shopify, use that platform's own route instead; see the marketplace guide.

• Shopify's online copyright form, which it names as the preferred method.
• Or email legal@shopify.com, or mail a notice to its designated agent in Ottawa, Canada (details on the policy page).

• Your legal name and contact details.
• Links to, or a description of, your original work.
• A direct link to each specific Shopify page with the content. Shopify says a general link to the shop is not accepted.
• A description of the infringing material and where it appears.
• A statement of good-faith belief and that the information is accurate.
• A statement, under penalty of perjury, that you own the copyright or are authorised to act for the owner.
• A physical or electronic signature.

The DMCA notice template covers the same elements. Add one line per listing URL.

For a complete and valid notice, Shopify says it generally removes the reported content and tells the merchant through their Shopify admin. It adds that it may decline to remove content, or let a merchant repost it immediately, in some cases. A copy of your notice, including your contact information, may be given to the person who posted the content, so choose the address you give with that in mind.

The merchant can send a counter-notice that identifies the removed content, gives their legal name and contact details, consents to a federal court's jurisdiction, agrees to accept service of process and states under penalty of perjury that the removal was a mistake or misidentification. Shopify sends a valid counter-notice to you. If you notify Shopify of legal action within 10 to 14 business days, the content may stay down. If not, Shopify notifies the merchant and the content may be reposted. Shopify says valid counter-notices generally lead to reposting within that window. Read what to do if a seller files a counter-notice before you decide.

Shopify says it terminates stores for repeat infringement in appropriate cases, such as when several notices against a store go uncountered, and that other stores run by the same person may also be terminated. It may disable a store after a single instance of willful or egregious infringement. The page does not say how many notices that takes, so keep reporting each listing you find. See why stolen art keeps reappearing.

Shopify says false or bad-faith notices are punishable by law and that harmed parties, including Shopify, may sue for damages and attorneys' fees. Report only what is yours and was not authorised.

Small shops are hard to find by hand. TraceMyAssets checks the artworks you register on a schedule and shows possible matches for you to review. We only see public pages that a search engine indexes, so some shops will be missed, and a match is a possible match, never proof. You decide what to do and you send every notice yourself. See the plans.

Can I send the link to the whole shop? No. Shopify says a general shop link is not accepted. Give the link to each page that uses your work.

How long does removal take? The page we read states no processing time for the initial report, only the 10 to 14 business day counter-notice window.