How to report copied content and branding on Shopify

If another Shopify store appears to be using your product photography, descriptions or branding without permission, prepare a report that identifies the specific material and the rights you hold. Shopify has separate copyright and trademark reporting procedures. A complaint about a suspicious-looking shop needs more detail than its homepage address.

This guide covers Shopify’s published requirements, checked on 18 October 2026. It does not establish that any particular store has infringed a brand’s rights.

Build a page-by-page evidence record

Our practical recommendation is to create one row for each disputed page: your original URL, the other page’s URL, the exact material at issue and the date you checked it. Save screenshots for your own records and identify who on your team owns the follow-up. This makes the report easier to review without relying on a general allegation that a store was “cloned”.

For example, describe the particular product photograph and where it appears, rather than saying that an entire catalogue looks familiar. Check your licences and ownership records before deciding what to report.

Use the copyright route for copied work

Shopify’s copyright reporting guidance requires identification of the original work, individual URLs for the allegedly infringing pages and a description of the content at issue. A general shop link is not accepted. You also need legal contact details, the required good-faith and accuracy declarations, confirmation of ownership or authority to act, and a signature.

Shopify says it generally removes reported content after receiving what it considers a complete, valid notice. That is not a guaranteed whole-store takedown. Its process also permits counter notices, and your notice, including contact information, may be shared with the reported party. Read the complete policy before submitting.

Use the trademark route for branding concerns

The trademark and trade dress procedure asks for examples, specific page links and an explanation of the alleged infringement. For trademarks, prepare the registration country, registration number and relevant goods or services category. Trade dress claims have separate requirements concerning distinctive, non-functional features and confusion.

Use the policy’s full checklist for your claim, including its declarations and signature. If you are unsure which rights apply or whether a use is permitted, get qualified advice before making a formal allegation.

Keep a record after submission

We recommend retaining the submitted notice, correspondence and subsequent page checks together. Assign someone to review replies and record what changed. Avoid treating a low price, an unfamiliar domain or an AI recommendation as proof of infringement; the report should identify the specific rights and material involved.