Alibaba and AliExpress counterfeit removal

Why Alibaba and AliExpress matter

Alibaba.com is a major wholesale source for products that end up on marketplaces around the world, and AliExpress sells directly to consumers globally. Enforcement here can stop counterfeit supply at the source, not just at the point of sale.

Alibaba prohibits the sale of counterfeit and pirated goods and other IP infringement across its platforms.

Where copycat inventory starts

In our experience, Alibaba and AliExpress have remained the leading source of illegitimate products supplied to buyers outside China for years. Sellers there can produce orders with custom logos at scale, which makes it fast and easy for a copycat to connect with a manufacturer and source huge volumes of inventory.

Most of our clients would rather focus on the sales channels where they earn revenue. But we see enforcement on Alibaba's platforms as a force multiplier: removing one supplier listing there can have the effect of roughly six removals on the marketplaces where you sell.

Shenzhen VitaPure Co.Repeat copycat×

Store detailsActivity feed

Case summary

Enforcement was successful. Alibaba removed the supplier listing on Mar 7, and the 6 marketplace listings it supplied are being closed next.

$ Est. rev lost$6,400 / mo

Infringing asset1 / 2

Infringement type

Trademark

Platform

Alibaba

Seller name

Shenzhen VitaPure Co.

Product price

$1.20 / unit

Units sold

18,000+

Location

Shenzhen, CN

How enforcement works on Alibaba and AliExpress

• The IP Protection Platform (IPP). Rights holders and their authorized representatives file takedown requests through Alibaba's IPP against listings or product descriptions that infringe their IP. Brands register their identity and IP records first, then submit notices. Alibaba also lists ipr@alibaba-inc.com for IP disputes, but recommends the platform.
• Which IP rights are accepted. Alibaba accepts takedown requests based on where rights are protected. Its international platforms, including Alibaba.com and AliExpress, accept requests based on international IP rights. China domestic platforms such as Taobao require China-registered rights.
• Lazada and Miravia need regional rights. The international IPP is also used for Lazada and Miravia, but international registrations aren't enough there. Those marketplaces require IP registered in their regions. Because most brands haven't registered their IP globally when they start brand protection, unregistered copyright is often the only available ground for removal on these platforms.
• Processing speed. Alibaba reports that 95% of notices for AliExpress, Alibaba.com, and Lazada are processed within 24 hours on business days, and that generally matches our experience, with delays around Golden Week and other holidays. "Processed" doesn't always mean removed, though. A first response is often a request for more information, and the full process from first report to removal can still take days rather than hours.