All of these sounds to me like Google banning people's (talking about publishers in the first place) accounts left and right, while they were simultaneously and constantly changing the rules. You would find yourself banned overnight without explanation and without a possibility to complain or even less clarify the issue. 
I know many were abusing the system in all sorts of ways, but I still think it's not how should they operate. 

But, on the other hand, I strongly believe, all those companies that hold (this way or another) such kind of monopolistic power, sooner or later would fall through. I think it's just a matter of time when people would finally organize themselves and stood up against all these monopolists, avoiding them in a huge loop and turning to more human alternatives. 

Google also thought it's untouchable until he started losing several lawsuits almost in a row.
Today, not widely known, but some rumors are circling that currently is craving for advertisers upon huge drop down (although we are still seeing their ads all around). 
So, it seems some things are changing, maybe not in big steps, but they do.
If we stay persistent or even forced (as you did) to find some alternatives or new ways and opportunities, the changes we are looking for would come even sooner!

Sorry to hear Amazon's ban "stuck" on your account... sadly, they (and Etsy and eBay) are sticklers when it comes to even the *slightest* chance there's a copyright infringement. They don't really investigate individually... if it looks like someone else's design or even *part* of someone else's design, you get shut down. I've seen this happen to a couple of friends on both Amazon and Etsy. Also saw it happen to someone who was selling (clearly marked) "faux" brand name items on eBay.

such a great tip! diversify, diversify, diversify! [not financial advice]

One door closed, another door will open.  :)

Sale your shirts on Steemit for Steem Dollars. You own your account so no one can ban you. You can get flagged for bad deals and your rep will go  down. So that's an insensitive to do good.

Sux

Trademarks are definitely tricky because it can be any symbol, design, phrase, or even a specific sound distinguishes one organization/business, its products and/or services from another.  

Amazon is a perfect example.  They ***cannot*** trademark the word amazon because it is a common word. What they CAN trademark is the font and colors, logos and all things associated to their SERVICE which happens to be called Amazon. 

Coca-Cola - as another example. They cannot trademark the word "cola" but if you tried to use their specific red and font combination, there is definitely an argument for trademark infringement. 

Sorry to hear about your lifetime ban. Hopefully you can submit another appeal in a month or so?

Have you tried etsy?

This is why I don't hire designers to create designs for me. Took me a while to understand photoshop but I'm glad I did. I work on all of my designs. I had my account suspended as well so I understand how you feel. I'm currently partnered though with someone else. 50% royalties for me, at least its something.

This is why centralisation of power is a problem.  Amazon can do anything they like.

I have a question regarding the shirt design you posted. 
When you say you own the rights to the design and the shirt, did you create the design from scratch yourself? Or was it assembled using elements from elsewhere? 

The reason I ask is because I did a google image search of your shirt design and found this, which appears to be a negative of the image of the wolf in your shirt design: 

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVDy1upme1ZRp1bmMMaPpaDM8UXh8VuNrGkm8npAMV1ej/image.png)

The image can be found on the following page: 
https://www.discogs.com/Bala-10-Farkasok-Visszan%C3%A9zni-Neh%C3%A9z/release/8968560

Please understand, I'm certainly not trying to toss any accusations or opinions around, because I understand that with a certain percentage of alteration to a creative work, some things can be acceptable in the eyes of the law, so I'm just trying to help you see perhaps why Amazon ruled on this the way they did.

For example, do you think it's possible that whomever created the original wolf saw your shirt design and pursued it with Amazon?