Intellectual property rights: How TikTok Shop's IPPC helps protect your IPR
Intellectual property can refer to nearly any creative work or invention that can be trademarked, patented, or copyrighted. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, everything from a brand's signature symbols and designs to literary and artistic works can be considered intellectual property.
IPR is a big deal to sellers, because certain designs or products they've created might be how consumers recognize them in a crowded marketplace. If and when other companies use or copy a seller's IP without permission, they could take customers and revenue away from the creator without paying them for their creativity, efforts, and inventions. Copying another brand or creator's IP can also lead to trust issues with customers, who may have certain expectations of a brand they know and trust, if and when those expectations aren't met. So, it's easy to see why brands and trademark owners are eager to protect their intellectual property. And the IPPC can help.
What is TikTok Shop's IPPC?
TikTok Shop's IP Protection Centre (IPPC) is a one-stop, integrated platform where brand and trademark owners can upload and store their intellectual property rights (IPR) documents, submit and review infringement complaints, and track complaint status and moderation decisions. IPPC accounts can now also be linked directly to TikTok Shop Seller Center accounts to streamline their processes and sync trademark owner brand authorizations across the two platforms.
How the IPPC supports sellers
TikTok Shop's IPPC is a simple, streamlined way for brand and trademark owners to protect their IPR, and to search for products as well as videos and LIVEs linked to TikTok Shop products, for possible IPR infringements. It's also where they can report infringements, and review and track complaints, all in one place. By centralizing the services that IP owners need—and linking those accounts and services with their TikTok Shop Seller Center accounts — they can address issues as soon as they see them and more easily track any open tickets in one convenient place, and experience a faster response time for issues compared to other reporting methods.
Recent IPPC upgrades now permit sellers and trademark owners to create organizations in IPPC. This means that large brands and sellers can invite multiple individuals to IPPC and allow more than one person to help manage their accounts, documentation, and complaint tickets. Individuals can be assigned one of three different roles within IPPC organizations:
- Admin: The highest level of permissions available. If an IPPC user creates a new organization, they will automatically be granted the role of admin.
- Rights Owner: Individuals granted this role can manage IP documentation and complaints.
- Agent: These organization members can view the IP portfolio and create and manage complaints.
How can TikTok Shop sellers register with IPPC?
There are two easy ways to register with IPPC:
- Visit the IPPC login page and choose Log in with Seller Center Account. Sellers can use the same login credentials they use for Seller Center to register with IPPC.
- Register separately with IPPC, without using Seller Center credentials, by visiting the IPPC login page and clicking "Sign up" to start the account creation process.
Sellers looking for more detailed guidance and instructions can review our Intellectual Property Policy, which includes the step-by-step procedure for reporting infringements.
The improved IPPC site and expanded functionality helps sellers and trademark owners more easily manage their intellectual property and streamline their processes for protecting it and reporting infringements, all in one centralized place linked to their TikTok Shop Seller Center account. It also ensures that the e-commerce experience will be better protected for our shoppers, keeping more IP-infringing items off our platform and allowing them to discover authentic products.
Learn more about our Safety and IPR reports here.
TikTok Shop is dedicated to providing all customers with a safe, supportive, and positive customer experience. Learn more about our policies by visiting the TikTok Shop Academy or @tiktokshopacademy on TikTok.