TikTok Shop steps up IP protection drive to curb online counterfeits

ELECTRONIC commerce platform TikTok Shop is looking to boost awareness on protecting intellectual property (IP) rights as it seeks to address the proliferation of counterfeit goods online.

Yves Gonzalez, head of public policy for the Philippines at TikTok Shop, said IP protection creates a safe shopping experience for sellers and consumers alike.

“When a consumer clicks ‘buy’ on the platform, they are also buying into the promise of a brand. Our responsibility is to help ensure that promise is protected through strong policies, proactive enforcement, and tools that empower rights holders to act in real time,” he said in a statement on Monday.

Stronger IP protection can create tangible commercial value by helping businesses protect brand equity, reduce counterfeit-related risks, and participate more confidently in the e-commerce landscape, it said.

TikTok Shop said that it recently conducted talks with brand owners, rights holders, and platform partners on strengthening IP protection in the digital marketplace.

The sessions were done in partnership with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), it said.

The talks provided updates on TikTok Shop’s Intellectual Property Protection Center (IPPC) and insights from IPOPHL on the Philippines’ IP enforcement landscape.

It also featured a panel discussion with TikTok Shop Mall brand partners on how stronger IP protection supports e-commerce growth.

TikTok Shop said it has rejected over 40 million product listings and removed over two million worldwide in the first half of 2025.

“IP protection is essential to fostering innovation, fair competition, and consumer trust in today’s digital economy,” Christine V. Pangilinan-Canlapan, director of the Bureau of Legal Affairs and Supervising Director of the IPOPHL’s IP Rights Enforcement Office, said in a statement on Monday.

The company also cited the need to provide sellers with online tools to better protect their brands.

For instance, TikTok Shop’s IPPC also provides a one-stop integrated platform where rights holders and authorized representatives can register, monitor, and report suspected IP infringements efficiently.

Government authorities confiscated P472.61 million ($8.4 million) worth of counterfeit goods in the first quarter of 2026. The seizures were conducted in 43 operations led by the Philippine National Police. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz