Etsy recently redefined its Creativity Standards to exclude a wide range of 3D printed products sold on its website. According to the new rule, anything 3D printed must be “produced based on a seller’s original design.”
For context, “Creativity Standards” were introduced in 2024 to establish both a rationale and a framework for selling a wide range of items. The policy defines four product categories: “Made by (seller),” “Designed by (seller),” “Handpicked by (seller),” and “Sourced by (seller).” According to Tom’s Hardware, the original Creativity Standards—seen in this May 29, 2025, screenshot from the Wayback Machine—state that items “Made by a seller” may be produced using computerized tools based on a design or pattern.
That line has now been changed to read:
“Items produced using computerized tools: Physical items that a seller produced in their personal shop or home, using computerized tools such as a laser printer, 3D printer, CNC or Cricut machine. These items must be produced based on a seller’s original design and are often personalized or customized to a buyer’s specification.”
MyMiniFactory’s response
Aware of the fact that Etsy’s policy changes have pushed thousands of merchants to seek alternatives, MyMiniFactory, the 3D printing platform for tabletop gaming and beyond, launches its Premium Merchant Program, a $25/month verification system designed to allow legitimate makers (Premium Merchants) to 3D print and sell licensed designs from established creators.
According to the company, the Premium Merchant Program addresses longstanding issues in the 3D printing ecosystem, where unlicensed copying of designs has created a “wild west” environment that undermines both creators and legitimate manufacturers. MyMiniFactory’s solution provides official verification for Premium merchants while it will ensure automatic royalty payments to designers through transparent licensing (V2 in development).
“For over a decade, we’ve watched talented designers and skilled makers get exploited by platforms that extract value rather than create it,” said Nebo Nikolic, CEO of MyMiniFactory, The recent marketplace disruptions have highlighted what we’ve known for years – the infrastructure connecting creators and manufacturers has been fundamentally broken.
MyMiniFactory’s approach contrasts sharply with traditional marketplace models. The platform takes a 10% fee compared to industry standards of 20-30%, while providing automatic licensing, verified maker status, and direct input into future platform development.
Nebo added: “We’re not trying to be a slightly better version of a broken system, we’re building infrastructure designed specifically for the realities of digital-to-physical manufacturing, where everyone in the chain needs to be fairly compensated.”
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