Sellers source products from factories and suddenly receive complaints about pattern infringement, leading to all listings being taken down. Even more outrageous — some sellers receive a TRO, and their accounts with over $100,000 are frozen.

What's going on?

We invited Ms. Yu Wenzhu, national expert on overseas IP dispute resolution and partner at Amazon IPA law firm AnJie Broad, to break it down: How to avoid infringing others' copyright + what to do if accused of infringement

Factories take images from the internet as product patterns and sell them directly

Seeing images "widely used online" and mistakenly assuming they are free to use

Using real-life photos from other stores directly

Hiring influencers, designers, or photographers to create content, but the contract states copyright does not belong to the seller

Obtaining copyright authorization from a third party who is not the copyright holder and has no right to license

Obtaining a license from the copyright holder but using it beyond the licensed scope, e.g., the license contract prohibits commercial use or modifications, usage scenarios do not comply with the agreement, or product sales exceed the licensed quantity, etc.

Core Principle

Not knowing it’s someone else’s copyright is not a defense against copyright infringement.

Establish a material compliance system; do not use images, videos, or text with unclear copyright status.

Keep records of all original creation evidence and licensing proof, so that when sued for infringement you can provide evidence of originality or documents proving the complete chain of authorization.

Step 1

Figure out what the accuser is alleging

Is it the product pattern? Main image? Packaging design? Bullet points? Or promotional video?

Step 2

Verify whether the complainant has the right to file a complaint

Is the complainant the copyright owner? Or authorized to initiate a complaint or lawsuit?

Does the other party’s work actually enjoy copyright protection?

Do you have any defenses (such as fair use)?

Step 3

Trace the source of the material and decide next steps

If indeed plagiarized or source unknown: voluntarily take down the listing + settle with the copyright owner or obtain a license

If independently created or already licensed: submit an appeal to the platform + provide evidence (copyright registration certificate, creation process evidence, licensing contract, etc.)

TRO stands for Temporary Restraining Order. It is not an ordinary platform complaint but an emergency measure at the court level. Once a TRO is involved, the handling approach is completely different from a platform appeal.

Sellers are advised not to respond on their own

Do not hastily admit infringement without professional judgment, which may cause you to miss the opportunity to be exempted based on procedural or substantive grounds

Do not pay a settlement far higher than the compensation legally owed (e.g., 50% or more of the frozen account amount) just to restore listings and unfreeze funds

After receiving a freeze notice, immediately find a U.S. attorney familiar with U.S. copyright law and Schedule A lawsuits to assess whether there is infringement and develop a targeted response strategy.

Before the next peak season, we suggest you immediately check against the following list:

Do your product patterns, packaging designs, main images, and model images all have clear copyright sources?

Have you saved original creation evidence or licensing proof for all materials?

Do your contracts with designers, photographers, and models specify copyright ownership?

Have you registered copyright for important original content?

Do you know how to handle copyright complaints and TRO freezes?

If your answer to any of the above is "not sure" or "no", it's time to take action. Don't wait until you are complained about or your account is frozen to regret.

Copyright protection is not a matter that can be postponed; it is an urgent task that requires immediate action.

If you have any questions about Amazon, you can use the link ( https://wsurl.cc/wg4chn) or scan the code to contact the official Customer Development Manager: