TikTok Shop Publishes Intellectual Property Violation Appeal Requirements
TikTok Shop US requires intellectual property appeals to include evidence matching the specific circumstances, such as ownership documents, authorization documents, or purchase records.
What are the key facts?
- 1TikTok Shop published US intellectual property violation appeal guidance on October 9
- 2Intellectual property owners must submit documents proving ownership
- 3Authorized brand sellers must submit authorization-related evidence
- 4Legitimate-source claims require purchase and transaction materials
What happened?
TikTok Shop US published intellectual property violation appeal guidance on October 9, requiring sellers to prepare evidence based on the specific appeal circumstances. Sellers claiming to be the intellectual property owner must submit documents proving ownership. Sellers authorized by a brand must provide an authorization letter, authorization chain, or other documents proving lawful use rights. Sellers claiming that products came from a legitimate source should submit purchase invoices, supplier information, transaction records, and other materials. The requirement has a notable impact on cross-border sellers of branded apparel, footwear and bags, beauty products, consumer electronics accessories, trendy toys, and collectibles. Statements that products are genuine, supplier assurances of authenticity, or blurry screenshots are generally insufficient to complete an appeal. The original guidance also recommends organizing brand authorizations, purchase invoices, logistics documents, and product photos by SKU so that complete evidence can be submitted on time after a platform complaint.
What does this mean for cross-border sellers?
TikTok Shop US intellectual property appeals place greater emphasis on evidence matching the specific circumstances. Sellers of branded apparel, footwear and bags, beauty products, consumer electronics accessories, trendy toys, and collectibles should archive ownership, authorization, or legitimate-purchase documents by SKU in advance.
What should sellers do now?
- 1This week, create evidence folders by SKU for branded apparel, footwear and bags, beauty, and other relevant stores. Upload authorization letters, authorization chains, purchase invoices, supplier information, transaction records, logistics documents, and product photos, and check off each completed item.Listing character checker
- 2This week, spot-check branded listings being prepared for appeals. Match evidence separately to ownership, authorization, or legitimate-source claims, remove “genuine product” statements and blurry screenshots, and create a submission-ready appeal evidence checklist.