Beautiful Rustic Dragonfly Wind Chimes – My Ongoing Battle with Online Copycats
Beautiful Rustic Dragonfly Wind Chime – My Ongoing Battle with Online Copycats
I remember the exact moment I found it. I was scrolling through Amazon when I saw my own photo staring back at me — my Beautiful Rustic Dragonfly Wind Chime, photographed by me, described with my words, but being sold by someone else. The product in the listing? A cheap resin knock-off. That moment started a three-year battle that’s still going today.
Looking for the authentic version? Here it is: Beautiful Rustic Dragonfly Wind Chime.
For over a decade, I’ve poured my heart into crafting ceramic wind chimes at EarthWind Bells. The Dragonfly Bell is one of my most beloved designs — inspired by the dragonfly’s symbolism of change, transformation, and resilience. Each photo I take captures not just a product, but a piece of my art.
A few years ago, I discovered that my original Dragonfly Bell photos had been stolen and were being used by hundreds of websites and marketplaces. At the time, the only place those photos existed online was my Etsy shop — so I know exactly where they were copied from. I asked Etsy for help, but they offered none. Even today, scammers hotlink old images I’ve removed, and Etsy still won’t take them down.
If you search Google or Bing for “Beautiful Rustic Dragonfly Wind Chime,” you’ll see my original product photos scattered across countless listings — most selling fake or low-quality imitations. These copycat sellers even use my exact keywords, making them easy to find. The lack of originality is astounding, and the harm to small artisans is real.
The Story Behind the Dragonfly Bell
The Dragonfly Bell isn’t just a piece of garden décor — it’s a handmade work of art. I designed it to bring a sense of peace and connection to nature. The dragonfly represents transformation and resilience, and each bell is carefully crafted to carry that symbolism in its sound and form.
To convey that essence, I photographed every angle in natural light, capturing the texture, glaze, and fine details. These are the very images that counterfeiters now use to sell knock-offs.
The Growing Problem of Copyright Infringement
I first spotted stolen photos on Amazon, so I contacted the seller. They sent me a short video of a very small resin bell — nothing like my ceramic work. Not only were they stealing my photos, but Chinese manufacturers had also copied my design.
Over time, I found my images on hundreds of sites, including major platforms like Facebook, Amazon, eBay, Google, and Bing. Many of these sites profit from advertising these fake products while ignoring or dismissing infringement complaints.
Fake Photo – Cutting My Photos – Placing Them on a Different Background. That's still infringement!
The Impact on EarthWind Bells
- Brand confusion: Customers can’t tell the difference between authentic and fake, and may associate poor-quality imitations with my name.
- Lost income: Every sale of a fake is a lost opportunity to support real artisans.
- Emotional toll: It’s heartbreaking to see others profit from years of my creative work.
Fighting Back
At first, I sent DMCA takedown requests to individual sites — but it quickly became a full-time job. I turned to Pixsy, a reverse image search service, which tracked the infringers but had little enforcement power. Then I hired Koppa (formerly Qti.ai), which does have some success in getting individual sites to remove images, but it’s a constant game of whack-a-mole.
My Legal Efforts — and the Silence That Followed
I’ve applied for a trademark and filed DMCA copyright infringement reports with both PayPal and Microsoft Advertising. With Microsoft, I provided side-by-side screenshots of my original images and the infringing ads, plus direct product URLs. In one strange twist, I received two different responses: one confirming the ads would be removed, another saying they were compliant and would stay online.
I also submitted a signed infringement report to PayPal about a seller using my copyrighted photos to sell fake wind chimes. I never received a follow-up from either company. I’m sharing this so other artists know they’re not alone—and so customers can find the real thing.
How to Spot Authentic EarthWind Bells Products
- I only sell through EarthWindBells.com and my Etsy shop.
- Authentic listings feature my original photos — taken in natural light with clean, consistent backgrounds.
- My Beautiful Rustic Dragonfly Wind Chime has a distinct ceramic finish, not resin.
Shop the authentic Beautiful Rustic Dragonfly Wind Chime →
Support Original Artistry
If you’ve enjoyed reading this story and believe in supporting real artisans, please consider sharing this post to help raise awareness about online art theft. And if you’d like to own the genuine Beautiful Rustic Dragonfly Wind Chime, you can purchase directly from my shop knowing you’re getting authentic, handcrafted quality. Every sale supports my continued work and helps keep small makers in business.