Tag: IACC

  • Temu Bolsters Global IP Protection: Joins IACC in Fight Against Counterfeiting and Piracy

    Temu Bolsters Global IP Protection: Joins IACC in Fight Against Counterfeiting and Piracy

    Temu, a global e-commerce platform based in Boston, has recently become a member of the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) in a bid to bolster its intellectual property protection efforts while simultaneously widening its global presence.

    Joining Forces with the IACC

    By partnering with IACC, Temu is joining a robust network of over 250 companies and organizations spanning across more than 40 countries, all diligently working to combat counterfeiting and piracy. This membership is a step forward for Temu in its broader intellectual property enforcement program, a program that has seen significant growth since its inception in 2022.

    According to a representative from Temu, “Safeguarding intellectual property is a critical aspect of creating a marketplace that is trustworthy for both consumers and brands. By becoming a part of the IACC, we are reaffirming our dedication to IP protection. We are eager to engage in productive collaborations with our counterparts in the industry as well as other stakeholders.”

    Collaborative Approach to Counterfeiting

    As part of its role in the IACC, Temu will be actively working in cross-industry groups and forging collaborations with brands, associations, and enforcement agencies. This initiative comes on the back of an earlier partnership between Temu and the IACC, which was formalized last year.

    Bob Barchiesi, the President of the IACC, expressed his views on the issue of counterfeiting by saying, “To tackle counterfeiting effectively, a coordinated effort across industries is essential. The IACC serves to bring all stakeholders to the same table to align their efforts and share best practices. We are excited for Temu’s active involvement in our network as we strive to create a safer and more trusted online ecosystem globally.”

    Comprehensive Enforcement System

    Temu’s enforcement system covers the entire platform lifecycle, including the vetting of sellers, pre-listing screening, and persistent monitoring. The company asserts that over 99.9% of takedown requests are addressed within a span of three business days. In 2024, Temu launched its Brand Guardian Initiative, which now offers support to more than 1500 brands.

    Presently, Temu operates in over 90 markets, bridging the gap between consumers and manufacturers, brands, and sellers worldwide as it continues to expand both its platform and compliance capabilities.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the main reason behind Temu’s membership in the IACC?
    Temu has joined the IACC to strengthen its intellectual property protection efforts and further expand its global presence.

    How will Temu’s membership with the IACC benefit its fight against counterfeiting?
    Joining the IACC allows Temu to collaborate with over 250 companies and organizations across more than 40 countries, sharing best practices and aligning efforts to combat counterfeiting and piracy on a global scale.

    What is Temu’s approach to enforcing intellectual property rights on its platform?
    Temu’s enforcement system spans the entirety of its platform’s lifecycle, including thorough vetting of sellers, pre-listing screening, and continuous monitoring. Additionally, it asserts a quick response time to takedown requests and has introduced the Brand Guardian Initiative to further support brands.

  • Alibaba suspended from counterfeit-fighting group

    Alibaba suspended from counterfeit-fighting group

    After Alibaba had its IACC membership suspended, founder Jack Ma has cancelled his keynote address to the counterfeit-fighting group’s conference.

    Ma was to have been a drawcard speaker at this week’s two-day annual spring conference of the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (IACC) in Orlando, Florida, an event that attracts more than 500 leaders from business, law, security and government.

    His move also follows Alibaba Group and the coalition creating the IACC MarketSafe Expansion Program last week. The original program was created by Alibaba and the IACC in 2013 in recognition of the counterfeiting problem being too pervasive and complex for any single company or industry to fight alone.

    Alibaba last month became the world’s first eCommerce company to join the IACC, the largest non-profit organisation dedicated to combating product counterfeiting and piracy. At least three members of the Washington-based coalition, including board member Tiffany & Co, quit the group in protest and others threatened to leave after Alibaba was admitted as a member. The IACC suspended the new category in which Alibaba had been admitted, effectively terminating its membership.

    Alibaba Group president Michael Evans has stepped in to speak at the conference instead.  Alibaba international corporate communications head Jennifer Kuperman repeated that the company is “firmly committed to the protection of ­intel­lectual property rights and combating counterfeits”.

    On the same day Ma cancelled his conference appearance, he had lunch with US President Barack Obama at the White House, telling reporters afterward that the meeting had been “very good”.

    Among the brands that quit the IACC in protest was Michael Kors, which blasted the organisation for providing “cover to our most dangerous and damaging adversary”.

    Michael Kors was followed out by Gucci.

    Alibaba has meanwhile hired an army of employees to weed out fake brands from its website. It has also called for comprehensive changes at the IACC so it can counter trends and new technology in counterfeiting “instead of being held captive by some members’ interests”.

  • Gucci America follows Michael Kors out of IACC

    Gucci America follows Michael Kors out of IACC

    Gucci America has become the second brand to quit the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition(IACC) since the US-based group allowed Chinese eCommerce giant Alibaba to become a member last month.

    Describing Alibaba as “our most dangerous and damaging adversary”, Michael Kors left the IACC just after the Washington, DC group let Alibaba on board.

    Gucci, along with other Kering Group brands like Balenciaga, is suing Alibaba in New York, accusing it of knowingly encouraging and profiting from the sale of counterfeit goods on its eCommerce platforms. Alibaba has dismissed the suit as “wasteful litigation”.

    “The IACC stands by its decision and is committed to lean into the future and lead a coalition of the willing,” IACC president Robert Barchiesi says. “Whether it’s payment processors or online marketplaces, the choice is clear, they must be an integral part of the solution.”

    Alibaba’s membership is in a special category without voting rights, originally created when eBay asked to join the coalition, which it has not done as yet.

    Alibaba says its membership will allow it to work more closely and effectively with brands to enforce intellectual property rights.
    There are more than 250 members of the IACC including Apple, Chanel and Cisco Systems.

    Meanwhile, Alibaba Group boss Jack Ma has been confirmed as the IACC’s spring conference speaker.