500+ Trademarked Brands That Get Etsy Sellers Suspended, Sorted by Niche

I keep a spreadsheet. Every time I see a seller in one of my Facebook groups post about getting a listing taken down for a trademark they didn't know about, I add it to the spreadsheet. I've been doing this for a while now.

At some point it stopped being a spreadsheet and became a database. 503 trademarked brands, organized by the type of shop most likely to run into them. Because "don't use trademarked names" is great advice that's completely useless if you don't know which names are trademarked.

So here's the whole thing. Find your niche, check the list. If you sell across multiple categories - which, let's be real, most of us do - check all of them.

Entertainment is a minefield (136 trademarks)

This is the single biggest category and it's not even close. If you sell anything fan-adjacent, anything pop culture, anything "inspired by" a show or game or movie - this section is going to hurt.

Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars

I'm putting these together because they're all the same legal team coming after you. Disney owns Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar, 20th Century Studios, and basically half of entertainment at this point.

Disney alone has variations covering Mickey, Minnie, Donald Duck, Frozen, Elsa, Moana, Lion King, Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, Encanto, Luca, Coco, and about a dozen more. Marvel covers the full Avengers roster plus X-Men and Deadpool. Star Wars includes Darth Vader, Mandalorian, Grogu (Baby Yoda), and yes, even "Jedi" and "Sith" as words.

Pixar characters are separate trademarks too. Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Nemo, Dory, Monsters Inc, Lightning McQueen - all protected individually.

One seller I know made a cake topper that was just a green silhouette. Vaguely alien-looking. Listing pulled for Baby Yoda similarity. A silhouette.

Gaming

Nintendo is probably the most aggressive enforcer in the gaming space. Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Pokemon, Pikachu, Zelda, Link, Kirby, Animal Crossing - all of it. They have an entire legal department that does nothing but send takedowns to Etsy sellers. And they go after fan art, crochet patterns, stickers, everything.

Other gaming trademarks that catch sellers off guard:

• Minecraft (Creeper, Enderman, Ender Dragon)
• Roblox (including Robux)
• Fortnite (Battle Royale, Victory Royale)
• Sonic the Hedgehog
• Five Nights at Freddy's (huge in the kids' party supplies niche)
• Among Us (Crewmate, Impostor designs)
• Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail (anime-style gaming, growing fast)
• Blizzard games (World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo)
• Activision (Call of Duty)
• Halo
• The Sims

Anime and manga

This one is growing. Japanese IP holders used to be slower about enforcement on Etsy but that's been changing, especially since 2024.

Dragon Ball (including Goku, Vegeta, Kamehameha), Naruto (Sasuke, Akatsuki), One Piece (Luffy, Straw Hat), Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Sailor Moon, Studio Ghibli (Totoro, Spirited Away, No-Face), Jujutsu Kaisen.

Pokemon gets its own mention again here because it overlaps gaming and anime, and The Pokemon Company sends more DMCAs than almost anyone else on the platform.

Streaming and TV

Netflix shows like Stranger Things and Squid Game. HBO's Game of Thrones (House of the Dragon too). The Simpsons, SpongeBob, Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig (Entertainment One is aggressive), Bluey, Sesame Street, and Peanuts (Charlie Brown, Snoopy).

Baby Shark deserves special mention. Pinkfong trademarked it and they go after everything - party supplies, clothing, stickers, cake toppers. The song has like 15 billion YouTube views so of course sellers want to make products for it. Don't.

And the classic entertainment IPs that people assume are "old enough to be fine": Ghostbusters, Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Rocky - nope. All actively enforced.

Music

Band merch seems like an obvious no, but sellers try it constantly. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Queen, AC/DC, Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Grateful Dead.

But it goes beyond band names. David Bowie (the lightning bolt face paint is trademarked), Prince (the love symbol), Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, BTS, BLACKPINK, Beyonce - individual artists protect their names, likenesses, and logos.

Kiss is one of the more aggressive ones. Gene Simmons has literally tried to trademark the devil horns hand gesture.

Board games and tabletop

This category trips up a lot of crafty sellers who make custom accessories. Dungeons & Dragons (D&D, d20 - though the d20 die shape itself isn't trademarked, specific D&D branding is), Scrabble tiles (the tile design is protected), Catan, Warhammer (Games Workshop is extremely litigious), Jenga, Rubik's Cube.

Magic: The Gathering gets sellers too. Custom deck boxes, playmats with MTG art references, card sleeves with set symbols - all targets.

Fashion has 102 trademarks in our database

Second biggest category. And it's split across several sub-niches that don't always overlap.

Luxury brands

The obvious ones: Louis Vuitton (including the LV monogram pattern - even "inspired" versions), Gucci (the interlocking G's, the stripe pattern), Chanel (the interlocking C's), Hermes (the Birkin bag shape itself is trademarked), Prada, Versace, Coach, Michael Kors, Burberry (that plaid pattern), Tiffany (including "Tiffany Blue" as a color trademark), Cartier, Dior.

Rolex and other luxury watches are in here too. Even making watch face designs that look similar can get flagged.

Sportswear and sneakers

Nike (the Swoosh, "Just Do It", Air Jordan, the Jumpman logo), Adidas (the three stripes - they've sued over stripe patterns on products that aren't even shoes), Converse (the Chuck Taylor star), Vans (the checkerboard pattern and side stripe), New Balance (the N logo), Under Armour, Puma, Reebok.

Streetwear and contemporary

Supreme (they trademarked a font style in a red box), Stussy, Off-White, Champion, Patagonia, The North Face, Vineyard Vines (the whale logo), Ralph Lauren (the polo player).

Fashion brands that surprise people

Vera Bradley - the patterns are trademarked. Dr. Martens - the yellow stitching is protected. Birkenstock - the footbed shape is trademarked. Crocs - the shoe shape with the strap. Levi's - the red tab and arcuate stitching on back pockets. Carhartt, Hoka, On Running, Lululemon, Spanx, Ugg.

A seller in my group makes custom shoe charms. She was selling "Croc charms" and got hit. You have to call them "rubber clog charms" or "shoe charms compatible with clogs." Annoying but necessary.

Crafting supplies - 41 trademarks your supplier doesn't warn you about

OK this one really gets me. You'd think that if you're buying Cricut supplies to make things, you could mention Cricut in your listing. You cannot. Well - you can say "compatible with Cricut" if it genuinely is, but you can't call your product a "Cricut project" or use their name as if it's yours.

Cricut and Silhouette are the big two in the cutting machine world. Both actively monitor Etsy.

Then there are the supply brands. Oracal (vinyl), Siser (HTV), Mod Podge, X-Acto, Dremel. You're selling products made WITH these tools and materials, but you can't name-drop them in your listings beyond compatibility claims.

Sewing machine brands too: Singer, Brother, Bernina, Janome. If you sell sewing patterns, don't say "Singer sewing pattern" - say "sewing pattern for home sewing machines."

Art supply brands: Copic markers, Prismacolor, Faber-Castell, Crayola, Staedtler, Tombow. If you sell handmade art, you might be tempted to mention the tools. Don't put them in the title or tags.

Clay and sculpting: Fimo, Sculpey. These are brand names for polymer clay. Say "polymer clay" instead.

Fabric sellers watch out for: Tencel (it's a brand, the generic is lyocell), Cordura, Sunbrella, Minky (this one's complicated - "minky fabric" is widely used generically but Minky Couture enforces their trademark), Coolmax, Kevlar, Supplex.

37 everyday words that are actually trademarked

I wrote a whole post about this but here's the quick reference table.

Some of these have become so generic that people don't even realize there's a brand behind them. But the trademarks are live and enforceable. If you sell kitchen products, check your listings for "Crock-Pot" and "Pyrex." If you sell crafting supplies, check for "Velcro" and "Styrofoam."

Food and beverage brands (32 trademarks)

You'd be surprised how many Etsy products reference food brands. Tumblers, stickers, party decorations, fake food jewelry. All of it's a problem.

Starbucks is probably the #1 offender in this category. Sellers make custom Starbucks cold cups, Starbucks-themed stickers, Starbucks-logo SVG files. All of it gets taken down eventually. Starbucks has a dedicated brand protection team.

Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Mountain Dew, Red Bull, Monster Energy, Gatorade, Kool-Aid - all trademarked, all enforced. Monster Energy in particular has a reputation for aggressive trademark enforcement. They've gone after indie game developers, small businesses, anyone using the word "Monster" in certain contexts.

Candy and snack brands: Oreo, Hershey's, Reese's, M&Ms, Skittles, Nutella (Ferrero is very protective), Kit Kat, Snickers, Twix, Doritos, Cheetos (Chester Cheetah is separately protected), Pringles.

Restaurant brands that show up on Etsy products all the time: McDonald's, Dunkin, Chick-fil-A (they are extremely protective of their brand), In-N-Out, Taco Bell, Wendy's, Krispy Kreme.

The phrases that aren't free to use (21 trademarks)

This is the category that makes sellers the angriest. Common phrases that someone went and trademarked.

Boy Mom, Girl Mom, Girl Dad, Boy Dad - all have trademark filings. BOYMOM LLC is one of the most talked-about enforcers in seller communities.

Girl Boss, Boss Babe, Wife Mom Boss - all trademarked. Mama Bear has been filed on. Dog Mom, Fur Mama, Cat Mom - yes, people have trademarked these too.

Hot Girl Walk is currently in active litigation between the trademark holder and Fashion Nova. Until that's resolved, don't touch it.

Not Today Satan - trademarked. Plant Lady - trademarked. Bride Tribe - trademarked. Mom Life - trademarked. Wifey - trademarked. But First Coffee - trademarked.

I know. It feels ridiculous. But "feeling ridiculous" doesn't protect you from a takedown. Check the USPTO database before putting any phrase on a product. Takes 30 seconds.

Beauty and skincare (25 trademarks)

If you sell handmade bath products, candles, or cosmetics, this list matters.

Olaplex, CeraVe, Burt's Bees, Neutrogena, Dove, Nivea, L'Oreal, Maybelline, Clinique, Estee Lauder, NYX, MAC Cosmetics, Fenty Beauty, Charlotte Tilbury, Urban Decay, Too Faced, Benefit Cosmetics.

The MLM brands are in here too and they're aggressive: doTERRA and Young Living both monitor Etsy for sellers using their names, especially for essential oil blends marketed as "similar to" their products.

Lush has gone after sellers for using their product names (bath bombs with specific Lush product names). And even Bath and Body Works - sellers make "dupes" and reference the original scent names. That's trademark use.

Home, lifestyle, and kitchen (38 trademarks)

Tumbler sellers, this is your section. Stanley and Yeti are probably responsible for more Etsy takedowns than any other brands in this category. The Stanley Quencher became a cultural phenomenon and suddenly every seller wanted to make Stanley accessories. You can sell accessories that fit Stanley cups - just call them "40oz tumbler accessories" or "compatible with Stanley" if they genuinely are.

Hydroflask, Owala, Simple Modern, CamelBak, Nalgene - same deal. Describe the size and style, not the brand.

Kitchen: KitchenAid (the stand mixer silhouette is trademarked), Vitamix, Instant Pot, Keurig, Le Creuset, Cuisinart, Lodge (cast iron), Weber and Traeger (grills), Ninja, Breville, Corelle.

Other home brands: IKEA (including specific product names like KALLAX, BILLY, MALM), Hallmark, Yankee Candle, Scentsy, Jo Malone, Diptyque, Febreze.

Peloton catches sellers who make holder accessories and phone mounts. Roomba catches sellers who make replacement parts.

Automotive (15 trademarks)

Custom car decals, garage signs, automotive gifts. Huge Etsy niche, huge trademark risk.

Ferrari is the most aggressive. They have sent cease and desist letters to car owners for customizing their own Ferraris in ways Ferrari didn't approve of. They will absolutely come after an Etsy seller making a Ferrari logo sign.

Harley-Davidson enforces heavily on Etsy. Bar and shield logo, the name, the specific orange color used in branding. Jeep (the seven-slot grille design is trademarked). BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Lamborghini, Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Toyota, Subaru, Volkswagen (remember - even the VW bus silhouette is protected).

John Deere and Caterpillar catch sellers making farm-themed products and construction-themed kids' items.

Sports leagues (14 trademarks)

I said this in our trademark violations guide and I'll say it again: just avoid sports IP entirely.

NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, FIFA, Premier League, UFC, WWE, Formula 1, MLS, PGA - they all have dedicated enforcement teams. The NCAA's licensing arm, Collegiate Licensing Company, monitors Etsy specifically.

The Olympics (including the rings and the word "Olympic") are protected by federal law in the US, not just trademark law. The Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act gives the USOC broader rights than a normal trademark holder.

Toys (13 trademarks)

LEGO is in a category of its own. They protect the word, the brick design, the minifigure shape, and they pursue sellers relentlessly. Don't say "Lego-compatible" either - say "compatible with major building brick brands" or describe the stud dimensions.

Barbie (Mattel), Hot Wheels (Mattel), Fisher-Price (Mattel), American Girl (Mattel) - Mattel owns a lot of this space.

Hasbro covers My Little Pony, Transformers, Nerf, Play-Doh, Monopoly. Build-A-Bear, Care Bears, LOL Surprise, Funko (Funko Pop figures), Beanie Babies (Ty Inc still enforces this), Webkinz, Littlest Pet Shop.

Outdoor and gear (12 trademarks)

Outdoor sellers making camping accessories, hiking gear, or adventure-themed products.

Coleman, Osprey, Arc'teryx, Fjallraven (that Arctic Fox logo), REI, Merrell, Salomon, Keen, Black Diamond, Marmot, The North Face (counted under fashion too but relevant here).

Tech (15 trademarks)

Apple is probably obvious. But it extends beyond the Apple logo - they've trademarked "AirPods," "iPhone," "iPad," "MacBook," and more. You can use these for compatibility statements. You cannot use them as product names.

Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Samsung, Sony - all standard. Tesla catches sellers making custom accessories.

Netflix, Spotify, TikTok - sellers make themed merchandise for these platforms. All trademarked.

Adobe (don't say "Photoshop file" - say "PSD file"), Canva, OpenAI, Anthropic - even AI companies are trademarked now.

So what do you actually do with this list

Three things.

First, go through your listings this week. Not tomorrow, not next month. This week. Search your titles and tags for every brand in your niche section above. I know it's tedious. I know you have 200 listings. Do it anyway. One takedown can tank your shop's search visibility for months even after you fix it.

Second, bookmark the USPTO trademark search. Before you list anything with a name, a phrase, or a word you're not 100% sure about, take 30 seconds to search it. Look for "LIVE" status.

Third, learn the safe alternatives. Instead of brand names, describe what the product actually is or does. "40oz insulated tumbler boot" instead of "Stanley boot." "Building brick display shelf" instead of "LEGO shelf." "Infant bodysuit" instead of "onesie."

Our database covers 503 trademarks right now and we're still adding to it. If you want to check your listings automatically instead of doing this by hand, that's literally what we built this tool for. Paste in your listing, get back a list of every potential trademark issue. Takes about 10 seconds per listing versus the afternoon you'd spend doing it manually.

Resources

Trademark Search Tools:

• USPTO Trademark Search (TESS)
• EUIPO eSearch plus
• WIPO Global Brand Database

Related Articles:

• Trademarked Words You Didn't Know About (Including Hot Girl Walk)
• Etsy Trademark Violations: How to Avoid Suspension
• What to Do When You Get an IP Takedown Notice

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