How do I find who hosts a copycat website?

Look the domain up with ICANN's lookup tool or an IP-to-host service, then use the host's abuse or copyright contact. Sites behind Cloudflare can be reported through Cloudflare's abuse form, which forwards to the host.

Do I need to register my copyright?

You own copyright in your photos automatically. Registration mainly matters if you plan to sue in the US.

By platform

Copycat protection for makers who sell on their own website

Selling on WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix or Big Cartel? How your product photos get copied, how to get copies removed from marketplaces and websites, and how to monitor them.

Updated 2026-11-01 · Markdown

Your own website gives you control over your brand, but not over your photos: anyone can save them. Without a marketplace's report button between you and the copier, you also need to know how to reach the copier's host.

How copying happens for makers with their own website

Your photos are reused on marketplaces by sellers of factory copies.
Copycat websites clone your product pages, sometimes your whole site.
Image-sharing sites spread your photos without credit, where resellers pick them up.

Where copies usually show up

Marketplaces (Amazon, Temu, AliExpress, Etsy)
Clone websites
Pinterest and social media
Print-on-demand sites

How to protect your work

Keep originals and archive your product pages with the Internet Archive.
For copies on other websites, send a cease-and-desist first, then a notice to their web host.
Use watermarks on secondary photos and social posts.

How MakerSentry helps

Add your products by URL and MakerSentry records proof, archives each page and searches for copies weekly. Website copies come with cease-and-desist and web host notices; marketplace copies with notices for each platform.

Questions

How do I find who hosts a copycat website?: Look the domain up with ICANN's lookup tool or an IP-to-host service, then use the host's abuse or copyright contact. Sites behind Cloudflare can be reported through Cloudflare's abuse form, which forwards to the host.
Do I need to register my copyright?: You own copyright in your photos automatically. Registration mainly matters if you plan to sue in the US.

Also see

MakerSentry

Keeps dated proof of every listing, finds copies of your photos every week, drafts and tracks takedowns, and builds your appeal if Etsy removes a listing.

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