Receiving an email about using an unlicensed theme

[Ragdollkid]

I have received an email supposedly from a shopify partner, claiming that a developer has gotten in contact with shopify saying that I am using a licensed or copyrighted theme, which is incorrect. I am clearly using dawn, an unlicensed and free theme from shopify. Has anybody else encountered this? I will attach the emails. A shopify advisor has said the emails are legitimate but that they might be misunderstood and I should keep using shopify like normal. But I’m worried about doing that when I have been threatened to have my store removed when I have done nothing wrong. Has anybody else encountered this? It just seems really strange. I can’t attach files but this was the email I was sent:

“We sincerely hope that you are doing well. We are investigating the copyright takedown notification that was sent to your store. In order to resolve this matter and avoid any possible inconveniences to your business, it is essential that we obtain your theme license and data as soon as possible. Maintaining the integrity of Shopify's platform and its license terms depends heavily on your assistance. Kindly respond as soon as possible with the information that has been required. I appreciate your prompt attention to this issue. Warm regards,

On Sun, Apr 21, 2024, 6:13 PM Amandine wrote:

Hello, how are you doing? My name is Amandine. I am a Shopify partner, and I'm reaching out to you because I noticed you are using an unlicensed theme in your store. 

We received a Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown notice from a theme developer claiming that your Shopify store, is using an unlicensed version of a theme in your store 

This theme is only available to buy in Shopify's Theme Store or theme Forest. Purchases of this theme made elsewhere are not licensed and each license is for a single store only.

You are given 3 days to rectify this or Your store will be taken offline after 3 days if this issue hasn't been resolved. You can resolve this issue by:

• Purchase: consider buying the theme from the Shopify Theme Store or theme forest. 

• Delete: if you choose not to purchase the theme, then you must remove it from your theme library, or

• Transfer: in cases where you previously purchased a theme for an old store but no longer use it there, you might be able to transfer it to your

I suggest you ask your website designer for the license to prevent your store from closing down.

We can also recommend an expert from our team to you to help you with this process.”

[Imogen]

Hi there, @Ragdollkid. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to the Shopify Community with your question around this email. My name is Imogen. It's good to meet you.

Thanks for providing all of the additional context that you have here. If you're using the Dawn Theme, which as your correctly stated is a Shopify-made theme that is completely free, then it makes little sense that a Shopify Partner would be reaching out to you regarding your theme and it being in violation of a copyright, especially since the theme was one made by Shopify, and not by a Partner. As I'm unable to authenticate you here, or access your store, so I can't see exactly what theme you're using, but if it's Dawn, then this email should be ignored.

If possible, can you share the email address that sent you this email here with us? I suspect that this email could be a phishing attempt, but it's hard to say for certain without seeing the email address used to contact you. I'm also considering this as a potential explanation for the email due to some of the grammar choices and capitalization mistakes made in the messages you shared here.

In your message, you say that you spoke to an Advisor regarding the messages. I want to recommend reaching out to an Advisor again for a second opinion, as they can authenticate you, see what themes you have in your store, and they can also connect with our Partner/Theme/Safety Teams regarding the email address that was used to send you the message to see if it was legitimate.

[scientist]

Hi Imogen, can you also help me?

I received an email from legal@shopify.com saying a developer is claiming I used their theme. I wrote back to ask them to please investigate and review my store because I used the free Shopify theme Ride...I didn't even change the lime green color!

They wrote back and insisted that I purchase the theme or will shut down my store in 24 hours. Is this a robot reviewing my code? Where is the evidence? Or are they simply believing the theme developer? I don't want to lose all the work I did to build the store and really don't understand why this is happening to me. I contacted customer support and they said I just have to communicate with legal. Who can help me at Shopify?

[Imogen]

Hi there, @scientist. Thank you for taking the time to reach out to the Shopify Community, and following up on this thread here. To set some expectations for you, I'm unable to authenticate users here in the Community, so I cannot see or access your account, account details, or any support tickets that you may have ongoing with our Team.

Our Authenticated Team (accessible via our Help Center) are the best folks to connect with to verify if an email you've received is legitimate or not. If you have concerns about the email that you've received, reach back out to our Team so they can verify if the email is indeed from Shopify, and then advise you on what next steps to take from there. Additionally, you can share the email address that sent you this email with me here, and I can follow up on if the email address is legitimate. However, since we're not in a live chat environment here in the Community, it would be more appropriate to contact us via the link to the Help Center I shared so we can assist you in a more timely manner.

[usercoolbrickz]

Hi Imogen, I just had the same email sent to me, can you verify it is legit? Thanks

[NathaliaLima]

I have just received the same email.
Makes me doubt it because it's from an gmail account and my theme is also a free version from Shopify.

Could anyone confirm this is a scam??

Thank you

[angelofalms]

Its from GMAiL shopify wont use a gmail its a SCAM... I got the same email. I'm using a free theme

[angelofalms]

Its from GMAiL shopify wont use a gmail its a SCAM

[Kiichi]

Dear Imogen,

I received a similar email myself. The theme is using Symmetry, so I believe there's no copyright infringement. Also, the sender's email address ends with @gmail.com, which raises concerns about its legitimacy. Could you please provide some insights?

Looking forward to your response.

Best regards,

kiichi

"I'm using AI translation, so I apologize if there are any mistakes in the English text."

[Dirk]

Hey, @Kiichi 

Judging by the sender email being an @gmail.com I can confidently say that it is not affiliated with Shopify and appears to be a scam as well. If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know.

[angelofalms]

Its a scam... Shopify wont use a Gmail account... I have the same type email. 

[CCox]

is this for real? The theme I’ve been using is I believe Brooklyn and I got it on Shopify. I just received this email tonight and it’s stressed me out super bad. I don’t have the time to redo my whole store in two days! Is this legit? 

I’m aM stressing out over this! 
CC

email sent from: shopify.code.theme@gmail.com
Subject: Action Required: Invalid Theme License on Your Shopify Store
Dear store Owner

We are writing to inform you that your Shopify store has been flagged for using a theme with an invalid or expired license, which violates Shopify’s Terms of Service. To ensure the continued operation of your store, we ask that you take immediate action to resolve this issue within 48 hours.

Operating with an invalid theme license can lead to significant technical and security challenges, such as missed updates and vulnerabilities that could compromise your store’s performance and customer data. It’s essential to address these risks promptly to maintain trust with your customers.

Additionally, compliance with theme licensing is crucial to the broader Shopify ecosystem. Violations not only impact individual merchants but also the integrity of the entire platform. Shopify cannot accept any breaches of our policies, and failure to comply could result in store suspension or closure.

We value your partnership and are committed to helping you resolve this issue. Simply reply to this email with “Help,” and our Licensing Department will provide assistance in authenticating your theme license.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

The Shopify Compliance Team

Shopify, Inc.

[angelofalms]

SHOPIFY will never ever use a GMAil account its a scam... I got a similar email and have reported it

[angelofalms]

I got the same type of email it came from "shopifycustomermanagement@gmail.com" I  KNOW its fake. and a SCAm...

[Sabibeauti]

I got the same email a few hours ago. Mines was from Shopifylicensemailerteam@gmail.com. I using Dawn

[angelofalms]

It's a fake .... if you hover over the email it came from a GMAIl account but says "shopifycustomermanagement@gmail.com" WHY would shopify use a gmail acocunt... always check where the email came from. 🙂 Have a good day! 

[SunnyBeachJewel]

OMG, I got the same email from 

Shopify <mailer.shopifythemelicense@gmail.com>

"We've identified a pressing issue with your Shopify store's theme license during our recent review. Unfortunately, your current theme's license code is invalid, violating Shopify's Terms of Service.

Using an unlicensed theme exposes your store to security vulnerabilities, performance disruptions, operational issues, loss of access to Shopify support, and potential store deactivation."

I am using old "Debut" ..... may be time to switch to a new one. I was so worry the whole day!