Can you post fan art on Etsy?
Sophia Vance
Published Jan 12, 2026
As a general rule, fan art is illegal to sell on Etsy or anywhere else if the seller doesn't have the proper legal permission from the copyright and trademark holders.
Is it legal to post fan art?
Quick answer: While it is generally illegal to sell fan art, it may be OK to publish your fan art as long as you don't make money from it. Fan art, fan fiction, or any other creative work inspired by popular culture is a complex and controversial issue.Are you allowed to sell fan art?
The answer is, if you are creating fan art whether for profit or not, any copyrighted character or use of trademark in a description or title without prior written consent from the copyright owner, then selling fan art is illegal but making fan art is not illegal.Can you get sued for making fan art?
Technically speaking, there's nothing illegal in the US about making and selling fan art because copyright isn't enforced criminally. Rather, copyright owners enforce their rights by suing infringers in federal civil court.Is fan art an infringement?
The key point to remember is this: Fan fiction and fan art are, usually, an infringement of the right of the copyright holder to prepare and license derivative works based on the original. This is almost without exception.Can you LEGALLY sell fan art on Etsy
Is selling fanart on Etsy illegal?
As a general rule, fan art is illegal to sell on Etsy or anywhere else if the seller doesn't have the proper legal permission from the copyright and trademark.How much do you have to change artwork to avoid copyright?
How much do you have to change artwork to avoid copyright? There is actually no percentage by which you must change an image to avoid copyright infringement. While some say that you have to change 10-30% of a copyrighted work to avoid infringement, that has been proven to be a myth.Is it legal to sell fan art on Redbubble?
Generally speaking, when you create something original and upload it to Redbubble, you own your creation. Fan art is a little different. When you submit your work to the fan art program, you are using someone else's intellectual property, which they own, so you would need their permission to sell it on Redbubble.Can I sell other peoples art on Etsy?
Etsy's marketplace includes handmade items, vintage items, and craft supplies. Reselling is only allowed in the vintage and craft supplies categories. Everything listed in our Handmade category must be made or designed by you, the seller. Reselling is not allowed in Handmade.Can I draw and sell Disney characters?
No you cannot paint, offer for sale, sell, or otherwise tinker with a Disney character, at least it is illegal without an express license from the Walt Disney company.Is Disney fan art legal?
Fan art is absolutely okay to make and share. However, if you are drawing an almost exact replica of a Disney character, you cannot sell your fan art. There are no protections for selling fan art that is a near copy of a Disney character.Can you sell a painting of a celebrity?
You can sell a fine art painting of a celebrity as long as it is a transformative work of art. This means it needs to be artistic in nature, not just a faithful likeness. The painting cannot copy an existing work of art (including a photo), and cannot interfere with a celebrity's “right of publicity”.Are anime characters copyrighted?
Many popular anime character designs are trademarked, as are their names and the names of the anime. The only way to be sure is to contact the owners of the anime in question and ask them, being sure to clarify it is for commercial use.Does Redbubble steal art?
No. Redbubble does not steal art and they respect the intellectual property of others.How do I avoid copyright on Etsy?
How to avoid copyright infringement on Etsy
- 1 – Don't use copyrighted logos. Don't incorporate a team or company logos into your work. ...
- 2 – Don't use copyrighted characters. ...
- 3 – Don't use copyrighted fabric. ...
- 4 – Don't use trademarked words. ...
- 5 – Don't use copyrighted photos or images.