Etsy's AI photo disclosure rule, explained
If you sell on Etsy and use AI-generated product photos, Etsy's AI photo disclosure rule means you're expected to tell buyers AI was involved. Here's what that actually requires, who it applies to, and how to stay compliant.
What Etsy's AI photo disclosure rule requires
Etsy's Seller Policy says that if an item is created through the use of artificial intelligence, you must disclose that in the listing. Etsy's Creativity Standards go further for listings where AI tools meaningfully shaped the final image, description, or design: instead of labeling the listing "Made by" you, Etsy asks you to set the attribution to "Designed by" you, and to say so in the listing description.
Minor edits, like cropping, resizing, or basic color correction, aren't the same as generating new image content. But if an AI tool changed, added, or regenerated part of what's shown in the photo, such as a new background, setting, or lighting, treat it as AI-generated for disclosure purposes.
Who it applies to
It applies to any Etsy listing where generative AI meaningfully shaped what a buyer sees or reads: the product itself, the written description, or the photos. That includes sellers whose product is entirely handmade but who use AI tools to turn a phone photo into a styled product photo. The item is real, but the image is AI-generated, so the disclosure still applies to that image.
A checklist to comply
- Read Etsy's current Seller Policy and Creativity Standards before you publish a listing with AI-generated photos.
- Add a clear line in the listing description saying AI tools were used to create the photo.
- Set the listing's attribution to "Designed by [your shop]" rather than "Made by," when AI meaningfully shaped the image.
- Make sure the photo still accurately represents the real product you ship. Style changes are fine, misleading changes aren't.
- When you're not sure whether an edit counts, disclose anyway.
- Recheck your listings whenever Etsy updates its policies, since marketplace rules change over time.
Where ShopShot Studio fits
ShopShot Studio turns one photo of your real product into AI-generated studio-style product photos. It doesn't invent a product that doesn't exist: every image starts from your own photo, and we check each result against that photo before delivery, with one free redo if something doesn't match. Photos are delivered within 1 business day, with packages starting at $25.
Because the photos are AI-generated, Etsy's disclosure rule applies to how you list them, the same as it would for any AI-generated image. ShopShot doesn't add that disclosure to your Etsy listing for you. It's a step you complete yourself when you publish, since only you can edit your own listing's description and attribution.
Questions
Do I need to disclose AI-generated product photos on Etsy?
Yes. If AI tools meaningfully shaped the image, Etsy's Seller Policy expects you to disclose that in the listing.
Does disclosure mean I can't use AI photos at all?
No. Etsy allows AI-generated and AI-assisted content when sellers are transparent about it and use the correct attribution.
Where do I add the disclosure?
In the listing description, and by setting the listing's attribution to "Designed by" when AI meaningfully shaped the image or item.
Does the rule apply if my product is handmade but the photo used AI?
Yes. The disclosure is about the AI involvement in what's shown, including the photo, even when the product itself is handmade.