Account is banned, because DMCA Notice/non-license theme

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Multiple Shopify store owners report account suspensions due to DMCA takedown notices for unlicensed themes. The issues stem from developers who provided themes without proper licensing.

Common Pattern:

  • Developers purchased themes in bulk or offered discounted prices below official Shopify Theme Store rates
  • Store owners trusted these developers, unaware themes lacked valid licenses
  • Accounts were subsequently banned despite later purchasing legitimate versions

Specific Case Details:

  • One user identified a developer operating under multiple names (Azeez Abdulgafar on Upwork, Adepoju Opeyemi on WhatsApp) who cannot provide license proof or invoices
  • Another user’s site has been down for a full day despite paying for a new theme through their developer

Recommended Actions:

  • Contact Shopify Support directly through primary channels (community cannot handle account-specific issues)
  • Clearly communicate that legitimate theme has been purchased and request store reopening
  • Report problematic developers to Shopify Support for Partner Governance review
  • Key Warning: Only purchase themes directly from the official Shopify Theme Store to avoid similar issues
Summarized with AI on November 8. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

We had a developer which used an illegal theme. ( at that time we trusted him and just later find out the theme was without a license key.) while we tried to purchase theme our account was suspended. Tried to contact shopify support and Shopify Trust & Safety but NO LUCK. We still purchased the theme. It didn’t unlock an account. PLEASE HELP US.

Request ID: 9360f3a5-c61f-4dfa-8171-1a7283095df2

2

Hi @Darius90 ,

Can I ask how and when you contacted our support team and what was said? The reason I ask is because the best way forward for this would be through our primary support channels as it is so account specific and we’re unable to look into account specific questions via the community for verification and security reasons. Once you do get in contact with them again, to be clear on letting them know you are looking to have the store re-opened and have purchased the theme. This is something which our legal team might have to look into and the only way to have them view it would be via contacting support.

The best advice going forward is to purchase a theme from the Shopify Theme Store. If you feel the partner you worked with isn’t doing something right, you can report them to Shopify support and request that Partner Governance look into it should you wish.

3

The exact same thing is happening to me. Our web developer purchased the theme through the Shopify app though ?‍ :female_sign: I’ve reached out to legal@Shopify & the theme developer. Paid for the new theme but site has been down all day. List a full day of sales. Please help me :folded_hands:t3:

4

Hi All,

I also got banned with DMCA takedown notice for the theme applied to my store.
I had purchased the theme in Jan 2024 from a person of upwork who claimed himself to be shopify expert. He mentioned by taking in bulk he will get in discount, so provided me discount.
His upwork profile name and his actual name are different.
Upwork profile name: Azeez Abdulgafar (Nigeria)
Actual name with whom i discussed on whatsup is : Adepoju opeyemi and i got referred by Adepoju Waliyat.
Instagram id: netreachmedia.in

Now i got DMCA takedown notice from Shopify legal team. So i asked him to provide proof for the purchase made, he is not giving any kind of proof and he says Shopify didn’t provide any license info or invoice.

So i have purchased theme myself again from shopify theme store.

SO I SUGGEST ALL SHOPIFY STORE OWNERS NOT TO BELIEVE ANYBODY AND PURCHASE FOR LESSER AMOUNT THAN THE SHOPIFY THEME STORE PRICE.