Taylor Swift Takes Legal Action Against Her Fans On Etsy

Taylor Swift’s extremely successful marketing campaign for her record-breaking album 1989 was largely built off the singer’s intimate connections with her fans. She went to their houses, baked them cookies, followed them on Tumblr, and invited them to exclusive listening sessions. But recent action from Swift and her legal team paints a far less BFF image of the pop star. Fans with Swift-related items on Etsy have been hit with alleged trademark violations and ordered to remove their items from stores.

Buzzfeed reports that of the 15 Swift-related Etsy items on a list they published back in November, only three are still for sale online. They contacted an Etsy seller who asked to remain anonymous, but spoke about the legal action brought against her:

We originally made the item for fun, we love Taylor and we had friends that love Taylor. We never intended for it to be a profit making item. The cost of the item covered shipping costs, and production costs with very little left over. When we got the e-mail that the trademark infringement occurred, we were pretty shocked because while our item was popular we didn’t feel as if it had become popular enough to cause harm to Taylor Swift’s empire. We were shocked. And we were scared. We didn’t even make enough money for a lawyer and this had seemed like such a harmless and fun idea.

The success of 1989 was built on fans feeling like they were part of Swift’s life and story. Now that the album launch campaign has wound down, the anonymous seller argues that the lawsuit counters that in a major way.

Fans like to see themselves as part of the artist’s story, however small. They want to contribute and be creative and have fun. These free, loving, creative minds are being stopped by the very artists who have inspired them. Obviously an artist has a right to their art and people should respect that. But at the same time most people, like us, are trying to be respectful and contribute to the excitement that the artist brings into our lives. When that is taken away, it leaves us with a bitter taste in our mouths. It feels as though we don’t matter, that our ideas and thoughts and creations never belonged to us in the first place. No matter how hard we worked. And for other fans who make art, I’m afraid that this is going to be the future.

Etsy issued a statement to Buzzfeed about the situation:

Because of privacy and legal concerns, we can’t verify specific information about who contacts us. However, I can share more information about our copyright and intellectual property policy:

When a seller opens a shop and lists an item on Etsy, they are agreeing to our terms of use, including trademark guidelines, and copyright and IP policy. We take intellectual property and copyright concerns very seriously, and we comply with the DMCA and remove items when we have proper notice. When we are notified about allegedly infringing material, we act swiftly and in compliance with our policy, which you can find here.

All this comes on the heels of Swift’s trademark of the phrase �...k beat,” among others. It isn’t a brand new situation (Buzzfeed says Swift’s lawyers issued takedown notices to Etsy sellers as early as 2013) but it has ramped up in recent months.

Swift isn’t the only one pushing back against fan-made merchandise. Beyoncé recently launched a similar suit against fans who were running with the “Feyoncé” meme.

There’s a difference between Drake threatening to sue a major corporation like Walmart for their “YOLO” t-shirts, and major pop stars threatening fans with legal action over homemade crafts. As the anonymous Etsy seller mentioned, most of them probably aren’t making much money anyway, and are just doing it for the fun of it.

That doll is freaky as.

Wouldnt she have already made millions upon millions from her fan base?

Why does she have to try and stop some poor or working fans hustle?

It's not even a bootleg of her art-work.

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She also removed her music from streaming services, she seems to have gone money hungry crazy.

She could have asked them to cut her in on their venture if she is in such desperate need for that 5th mansion and second private jet.

Why not even start a side-company that sells her fans work and promote it for them.

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Go Bootleg a Taylor Swift album today!

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[Edited 2/7/15 1:06am]

that doll is UGLY if I were her,I'd sue anyone making me look that hideous,lol

When we are notified about allegedly infringing material, we act swiftly

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I see what they did there.

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Sounds like she's taken a page out of Prince's book..."How To Lose Fans and Develop Haters."

Not to defend Taylor but fuck streaming services. No one gives two shits about bands that jacked for everything by spotify and whatever, but because MS Rich Swift takes a stand people say "shit your rich why do you care" dumb fucking attitude.

I don't see a problem with this at all. It's no different than selling home-made concert T-shirts out of the back of a van. It's her name, her likeness, and her "brand".

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The only problem I would ever have is if someone sued (like Prince did) of either lip-syncing to one of her songs for fun on YouTube or having one of her songs in the background.

Naaa, its all stupid. Sometimes these famous folk get their heads stuck so far up their behind, they forget they once struggled to make a living and make ends meet.

It makes no sense to go after your fans when it is those very fans you will be canvassing to buy your new album when it comes out. Want to keep your fanbase? Simple: 1) Make the music they want to hear 2) Dont sue them. Prince broke both these rules and now has very few fans left. Taylor Swift would be wise to take note how fickle a fan base is and how quickly it can go away. Prince fortunately had a legacy with which to live off. She doesnt.

Its like the famous folk who moan about the paparazzi all the time. They chose to be famous and make millions being famous and utilising the papparazzi to sell their latest project, so when a pap is looking to satiate their fans hunger with a photo for a gossip magazine, live with it. Your get what you ask for in this world. You ask your fans to make you rich, you also put up with your fans wants and needs.

Suing one's fans will be Prince's legacy.

I don't see a problem with this at all. It's no different than selling home-made concert T-shirts out of the back of a van. It's her name, her likeness, and her "brand".

Yeah that's how I see that too. And if you routinely fail to defend your brand, you can lose legal claim to it. It's not about the money those Etsy people make, it's just defending the trademark.

The idea in the article that Taylor is being mean when she is supposed to be "nice" is bullcrap.

Damn, nobody tell Gene Simmons about Etsy! His blood will boil over.