Protecting SVG Files from Resellers: A Step-by-Step Guide for Creators

Here is how to prevent SVG design theft and keep your Etsy shop safe.

Miroslav Novohradsky

Mar 23, 2025

I remember the exact moment I found my SVG design for sale… on someone else’s Etsy shop.

Same fonts. Same layout. Even the quirky little heart I hand-drew.

And no, they didn’t tweak it. They just slapped their name on it and hit “publish.”

My stomach dropped. I clicked through the listing again, hoping maybe I was wrong. Maybe it was just similar.

No. It was mine.

And it was selling.

That one moment kicked off a months-long spiral into frustration, confusion, and — eventually — clarity. If you're a digital creator selling SVGs, you're probably here for one reason:

You're scared someone will steal your work.

And it is happening. And the worst part? The platforms rarely care.

But you’re not powerless. Let me walk you through what I’ve learned — the hard way — about protecting your digital designs from theft and reselling.

There’s no silver bullet. But there are steps that work.

Why Is SVG Theft So Common?

SVG files are tiny, tidy, and terrifyingly easy to copy. Once someone downloads it, they can:

Resell it as-is
Change a line or two and pretend it’s new
Upload it to marketplaces that don’t check originality

And here's the kicker: Buyers usually have no idea they're buying stolen work.

But you do. And when you see it, it stings.

I bombed my first few attempts at stopping these thieves. My messages got ignored. My takedown requests were rejected. I felt like I was shouting somewhere no one is heading me.

So I changed tactics. And things started to shift.

Here’s what I fixed.

Step 1: Add Invisible “Proof” of Ownership

Let me guess — your SVG files are clean.

Perfect… for thieves.

That’s why I started embedding invisible metadata inside each file. A tiny, unnoticeable comment that includes my name, website, and a copyright claim.

It looks like this:

It doesn’t stop theft — but it gives you ammo.

If someone ever questions your ownership, you can prove it was yours from the start. That tiny line of code has helped me win multiple takedown battles.

Step 2: Watermark the Mockups (Not the Files)

At first, I watermarked my actual SVGs.

Big mistake. Customers hated it. Refund requests poured in.

Then I got smart. I started adding semi-transparent watermarks on my preview images only. It stopped lazy thieves from dragging and dropping my mockups into their own shops.

Is it foolproof? No. But it raises the effort required to steal.

And most thieves? They’re lazy.

If you want, here are two ways how to add a watermark to your images… in Photoshop and also in Canva.

Step 3: Tweak Your Licensing Terms — and Enforce Them

Are your licensing terms buried in your listing? Be honest.

I used to write vague lines like “Personal use only.” That’s it. And when people broke the rules, I had nothing to point to.

So I created a full license page. Now every product includes:

What’s allowed (e.g., personal use, commercial under 100 units)
What’s NOT allowed (e.g., reselling the design itself)
Clear consequences

And I added this line to every Etsy listing description:

✦ By purchasing, you agree to these terms: [link]

Now, if someone copies me and says “I didn’t know,” I’ve got receipts.

Step 4: Monitor, But Don’t Obsess

This one was hard.

After that first stolen design, I became obsessed. I’d Google my product titles. I’d reverse image search my mockups. I even made a fake account to spy on a reseller.

I was spending more time chasing thieves than designing.

You can’t build a business like that.

So I gave myself a schedule: One morning per month, I check for copycats. I reverse-search my images. I look up my top sellers on Etsy and Creative Fabrica.

If I find something? I take action (more on that in a minute).

If I don’t? I close the tabs and get back to creating.

Step 5: Know Your Platforms (and Their Takedown Process)

This part gets really frustrating, really fast.

Not all platforms treat theft the same. Etsy will sometimes respond quickly — if you file a proper DMCA notice. Creative Market? Hit or miss. Design Bundles? More supportive, in my experience.

Here’s the general process that’s worked for me:

Gather evidence: Take screenshots of your original listing, timestamps, and the stolen one.
Find the proper DMCA form: Most platforms have one — Etsy's is here.
Submit calmly and clearly: Don’t rage. Just state the facts.
Follow up: If you don’t hear back, nudge them. Persistence matters.

The key? Be more professional than the thief.

That’s how you win.

Step 6: Build a Reputation That’s Hard to Fake

Here’s something I didn’t expect: the more I grew my email list and my social presence, the less theft I noticed.

People don’t just buy SVGs — they buy trust.

I now include my name and shop handle in every mockup. My packaging includes a branded footer. My Instagram shows behind-the-scenes sketches.

That makes it obvious when someone’s pretending to be me.

And loyal customers report copycats before I even notice them.

That’s the power of community.

What About SVG Encryption or File Locking?

Can’t I just encrypt the file? Lock it down somehow?

Short answer: Yes, but it’s messy.

There are tools that claim to “protect” SVGs by converting them into encrypted formats.

But…

It confuses your real customers
Most advanced thieves know how to strip it anyway
It makes you look paranoid

Instead of punishing your paying customers, focus on proving ownership and deterring theft.

That’s a better long game.

And If You Catch a Thief?

Here’s the million-dollar question: What do you do if someone steals your work?

I’ve been there more than once.

Each time, I tried a slightly different approach.

Here’s what worked best:

Reach out privately first — Calmly. “Hi, I noticed this listing looks identical to my copyrighted design from [link]. Could you please remove it within 24 hours?”
Screenshot everything
File a formal DMCA if ignored
Tell your audience — But don’t name names. I shared my story once (anonymized) and got tons of support — and tips.

Sometimes the thief apologizes and takes it down. Sometimes they ghost you. And occasionally, they fight back.

That’s when having proof — your metadata, listing date, social posts — becomes gold.

But Can’t People Still Steal Anyway?

Yes.

And I hate saying that. But it’s true.

You cannot stop 100% of theft.

But that doesn’t mean you give up.

It means you protect what you can. You create faster than they can copy. And you make it easier to buy from you than to steal from you.

That's the real strategy.

Want the honest truth? The first time I found a stolen design, I wanted to quit. It felt personal. It felt unfair.

But I didn’t quit.

I made my listings stronger. I made my files smarter. And I built a brand people wanted to support.

You can, too.

And if you’re wondering — “Will this ever stop?” — I’ll say this:

It won’t stop completely. But it gets easier. You get tougher. Your systems get sharper. And the joy of creating outweighs the sting of theft.

So, protect your work. Keep showing up.

And don’t let the copycats win.