I had been working tirelessly on my latest project, a WordPress theme I’d designed from scratch for tech startups and SaaS companies. After months of late nights and countless iterations, I finally had something I was proud of: Zenix – Tech Startup & SaaS Elementor WordPress Theme. I liked the name Zenix—it felt sleek, modern, and fitting for what I envisioned.
I’d listed the theme on ThemeForest under my brand, Keystone Themes, and after its launch, the sales began to roll in. It wasn’t anything massive, but it was steady. It felt good seeing my work gain traction, knowing people were finding value in something I created.
Then, on an ordinary Friday morning, I woke up, made my usual cup of coffee, and sat down at my desk to start the day. I noticed an email notification from Envato. It wasn’t unusual for them to reach out, but as I opened it, my heart sank. It was from someone named Jerry from their Author Help team, with a subject line that read: Important Message from Envato - DMCA Received.
The email stated that my item, Zenix, had been taken down due to a copyright claim. I was stunned. A DMCA takedown notice is a serious legal issue, and seeing my theme disabled on the platform without warning was a blow. As I scrolled through the message, I saw the details: someone named Rahul Dev Sharma, who owned a theme called Zenix Admin Dashboard, had filed the claim. He accused me of infringing on his intellectual property rights, stating that I’d used the same name for my product, which he believed could cause confusion among buyers.
I read the complaint over and over again, trying to make sense of it. I’d chosen the name independently; there was no intentional copying or even awareness of his product. Rahul claimed to own the exclusive rights to the name Zenix, but he provided no evidence of trademark ownership or proof that the name was protected in any way. To make matters worse, he was saying this was not just about the name—he implied I was deliberately copying or profiting from his work.
It felt unfair. I had put months of effort into designing every aspect of my theme, from the code to the images and assets. My theme and his product served completely different purposes—one was an Elementor-based WordPress theme for startups and SaaS companies, and the other was a Bootstrap-based admin dashboard. They didn’t even overlap in functionality or market.
To make matters worse, the email stated that if there were more DMCA complaints, my account could be permanently disabled. This was my livelihood at stake. I knew I had to respond.
I spent hours researching, reading through the DMCA processes and Envato’s guidelines. They offered two paths: I could remove or rename the alleged infringing content or file a counter-notification. Removing the theme didn’t sit well with me because it meant admitting to something I hadn’t done. Filing a counter-notification felt like the only way to clear my name.
I wrote out my response carefully. In the counter-notification, I explained that all components of Zenix—the name, code, design, images—had been created independently by me. I pointed out that there was no evidence of copyright infringement, no proof of exclusive rights to the name Zenix, and that Rahul’s previous request to change the name had no legal grounds. I included screenshots of his previous messages to bolster my case. His complaint, to me, seemed like a tactic to hinder my business unfairly.
When I submitted the counter-notification, I felt a little more at ease. But then, I received another email from Jerry. It turned out I hadn’t included my full address in the response, which meant the notice wasn’t in the correct format. I had to resubmit everything with the missing information.
It felt like a never-ending process, but I knew I couldn’t give up. I added my complete address and sent the updated counter-notice. In my mind, there was no doubt I was in the right. I wasn’t trying to copy or confuse anyone—I was just trying to make a living through my work.
After submitting my counter-notification with the correct format, I felt a sense of relief. Envato acknowledged it, and the next few days were a waiting game. I kept checking my email, hoping for good news. I kept myself busy with other projects to stay distracted, but the anxiety of whether my hard work would be reinstated loomed over me.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I received another email from Envato. They had reviewed my counter-notification and decided to reinstate my product. It was a moment of triumph, knowing that I’d successfully defended my work and stood up for what I believed was right. However, that feeling didn’t last as long as I’d hoped.
The email also mentioned that my product, Zenix, had been resubmitted for review to be re-listed on the marketplace. Typically, reviews don’t take more than a couple of days, but this time, four days passed, and there was still no update from Envato. My theme was stuck in a sort of limbo. No further emails, no communication, just silence. It was frustrating—Zenix wasn’t making any sales, and I couldn’t plan ahead without knowing its status. This was impacting my earnings and delaying new product launches, which felt like another setback.
Meanwhile, the author who filed the fake DMCA claim seemed completely unaffected. I checked his profile, and his products were all still listed, including his Zenix Admin Dashboard. It seemed like he’d faced no repercussions for filing what I believed to be a groundless claim against me. I couldn’t help but feel like the system wasn’t fair. Despite going through all the stress and formalities, there was still this lingering sense of unresolved frustration.
I wasn’t sure what to expect next. Envato’s lack of response, the prolonged review, and seeing the claimant carry on as usual made it all feel a bit disheartening. I just hoped that once the review process was complete, my theme would be up and running again, so I could focus on moving forward and creating new projects.