Trademark guides / Pokémon
Is “Pokémon” safe to use on eBay?
No, not unless you’re selling the genuine brand. “Pokémon” is a trademark of The Pokémon Company / Nintendo.
Pokémon names and characters are protected. Fan merchandise using them is removed on report.
Why it’s a problem
Pokémon is one of the franchises sellers most often get flagged for, alongside Star Wars, Marvel and Nintendo. Fan-made merchandise using the name or characters can be reported and removed.
What eBay does when it’s reported
Brand owners report listings to eBay through its Verified Rights Owner (VeRO) program, and eBay removes the reported listings. Repeated removals can restrict or suspend your account. eBay's search manipulation policy also bans comparing your item with other brands' products.
eBay titles are only 80 characters, so sellers squeeze in popular keywords. A trademarked keyword in the title is the most visible place to be caught.
What to write instead
- your own original creature design
- anime-style (without naming characters)
Check the rest of your listing
One trademark is rarely the only risk. The scanner checks your whole title and description against eBay’s own rules and every term in our trademark list.
Related
Source: eRank: Tips to avoid getting your Etsy shop closed
General information, not legal advice. Trademark status can change; this page was last checked on 2026-10-10.