Etsy made updates to its creativity standards, effective June 10, 2025, restricting the sale of 3D and laser printed items made from other people's templates, scanned vintage digital files, and generic resold goods. The changes also clarify restrictions on nature-based products and commercial holiday decor sourced from wholesalers and bulk manufacturers.
While 3D and laser printed items are still welcome on the platform, Etsy is now emphasizing in its TOS that the items must be produced based on a seller's original design “and are often personalized or customized to a buyer's specification.”
Value Added Resource also notes that Etsy removed mention of “digital files of scanned vintage content like photographs, books, or patterns” from its seller terms, which could mean that these items are no longer allowed to be sold on the site at all. As usual, Etsy didn't provide any clarification about the changes.
Some sellers are criticizing Etsy for implementing the new rules without notice, which could lead to account suspensions before they have time to adjust their listings, while others support the tighter standards to preserve Etsy’s original handmade identity.
Etsy began purging products in 2024 after introducing “Creativity Standards” to reassure shoppers that the platform still had a human touch. Under the policy, every items on Etsy had to fit into four categories:
- Made by seller
- Designed by seller
- Handpicked by seller
- Sourced by seller
Those new Creativity Standards are fluid, and the company continues to adapt its interpretation of the rules.