Amazon Rejected My Design for Using a Public-Domain Word

The author submitted a design featuring the word "alchemist" to Amazon's Merch on Demand, which was rejected due to trademark infringement claims regarding "Alchemy." Despite providing legal documentation, Amazon's support and legal teams failed to address the issue. To test Amazon's logic, the author reported over 100 listings with the word "Alchemy," highlighting inconsistencies in enforcement and the impact of automated decisions on creators.

Two Hours Awake

The author describes a chaotic morning overwhelmed by digital corporate communications that disrupt personal productivity. Key issues include Stripe’s AI handling disputes without user consent, unsolicited messages from Healthcare Benefits Group about unauthorized data usage, and Spotify’s insincere initiatives that undermine indie artists. The experience highlights systemic disempowerment of creators.