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New | Alibaba tells USTR it’s cracking down on counterfeiters

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The Alibaba Headquarters in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Photo:Sam Tsang

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. said it has tightened policies against copyright infringements and made it easier for brands to issue complaints and request removals of counterfeit items on its platforms.

China’s largest e-commerce company took down 380 million product listings and closed about 180,000 Taobao stores in the 12 months to August, according to a letter dated October 7 the company submitted to the US Trade Representative. It has closed about 675 production, storage, or sales operations of counterfeit products, it added.

The efforts seek to address repeated complaints Alibaba has received from associations who criticise it for not taking enough proactive measures to fight counterfeits. As Alibaba seeks to bring in more than half its revenue from overseas, shaking off a reputation as a haven for knockoffs and winning the trust of foreign brands will be a key to expansion outside of China.

“At Alibaba, counterfeit goods are absolutely unacceptable,” Alibaba said in its letter to the USTR. “We do not tolerate or condone those who steal other people’s intellectual property.”

The Alibaba Headquarters in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Photo: Sam Tsang
The Alibaba Headquarters in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Photo: Sam Tsang
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