Alibaba's IP Protection Platforms ask for three kinds of evidence: an identity document for the complainant, a granted registration certificate or claim statement for each right, and proof that each listing infringes it, such as a product comparison or test purchase. Agents also need a letter of authorization from the rights holder that covers online IP enforcement.
Alibaba's IP Protection Platforms ask for three layers of evidence: who you are, which right you own, and why each listing infringes it. The first two are checked once, when you verify your account and each right. The third comes with every complaint. Most delays and rejections come from a small set of document problems that are easy to avoid when you prepare them in advance.
This guide covers the identity documents, the proof of rights for each type of IP, authorization letters for agents and the proof of infringement each complaint reason needs, with a full checklist. It applies to the Alibaba International IPP (AliExpress, Alibaba.com, Lazada, Miravia) and notes where the Taobao and Tmall Group IPP differs. For the full process, see our guide to reporting counterfeits on Alibaba and AliExpress.
What the IPP needs to see
The platforms do not decide IP disputes in court terms. Alibaba.com's rules say the platform reviews the evidence from both sides but does not adjudicate the substantive merits. In practice, a reviewer needs to see, from your documents alone, that a valid right exists, that it belongs to the complainant, and that the listing uses it without permission. Anything that leaves one of those three points unclear slows the case down.
Identity documents
| Complainant | International IPP | Taobao and Tmall Group IPP |
|---|---|---|
| Company | A copy of the business registration certificate or license | A photo of the local business license or registration document |
| Individual | A national ID card, passport or driver's license | A photo of the original passport, ID card, travel permit or driver's license |
| Agent | The rights holder's identity document and a letter of authorization | Only lawyers, law firms and rights-protection agencies, with the authorization letter and rights holder's identity proof |
On the international IPP, the name you enter at identity verification must match the name on the document exactly. The platform keeps identity documents confidential and does not disclose them without your consent.
Proof of your rights
Each right is submitted and verified on its own. Bulk submission is not possible, because each complaint is based on one specific right.
| Right | What to upload | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Registered trademark | The registration certificate | A separate class page must be uploaded separately; add renewal, assignment and change certificates when they apply |
| Registered copyright | The registration certificate, including the pages showing the work with the official seal | Registration practices vary by country |
| Unregistered copyright | The platform's Copyright Claim Statement and a copy of the work | Enter N/A as the registration number |
| Patent or utility model | The registration certificate | Chinese design and utility model patents dating from January 1, 2010 onward need a favorable CNIPA patent evaluation report |
| Registered design | The registration certificate | Design patents are filed as a Patent type |
| Unregistered EU design | The Claim Statement for Non-Registered Design Rights and images of the design | Requires the date and place of first public disclosure within the prior three years, and a statement under oath |
Pending applications are not accepted on either platform. When a trademark expires, the international IPP changes its status to Authentication failed until you upload proof of renewal. For Taobao, Tmall and 1688 trademark complaints, the mark must also be registered in mainland China: see our guide to registering your trademark in China.
Originals, not photocopies
The Taobao and Tmall Group IPP asks for photos or scans of original certificates. Companies that submit a photocopy must stamp it with the company seal, and individuals cannot submit photocopies at all. Documents that are not in Chinese or English need a translation into one of those languages.
Authorization letters
If you are not the rights holder, you need a letter of authorization naming you as the agent for enforcing the right on the platform. The international IPP generates a template from the rights you enter: download it from the power of attorney section of the IPR Submission page, have the rights holder sign or stamp it, and upload the scan. An existing letter can be used if it clearly covers online IP enforcement.
The Taobao and Tmall Group IPP is stricter. Its generated letter must name the Taobao and Tmall IPP as a platform where you may enforce, it must authorize you to handle IP infringement (a sales or distribution authorization is not enough), and it can run for up to three years.
Proof of infringement
This is the part you prepare for every complaint. The international IPP asks for information that shows a reviewer the listing was actually examined and that there is an objective basis for the claim.
| Complaint reason | Proof that works |
|---|---|
| Counterfeit | Differences from your genuine product, a test purchase, or proof that you never made the product in that form or color |
| Trademark used in the listing only | The title, description or image where your mark appears on an unbranded product |
| Removed or blurred logo | The exact image where the logo was altered, next to an unaltered photo of your product |
| Photo or text copied | Which images are yours, with the original and your Copyright Claim Statement or registration |
| Design infringement | A comparison showing the protected features of the design in the accused product |
| Patent infringement | An analysis report that explains the patent's claims in plain language and maps each protected feature to the product |
On the Taobao and Tmall Group IPP, a test buy complaint needs a report from whoever authenticated the product, signed or stamped by the rights holder. It must include the order number, the listing details, photos of the item and the method and reasons for concluding that it is fake. You can authenticate the item yourself if you have the expertise, or use an independent third party.
The full checklist
| Item | Needed for | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Shared company email address for the account | Account | |
| Business license or official photo ID, name matching exactly | Identity verification | |
| Registration certificate for each right | Rights verification | |
| Class page, renewal, assignment or change certificates | Rights verification, when they apply | |
| Copyright Claim Statement or design claim statement | Unregistered rights | |
| CNIPA patent evaluation report | Chinese design and utility model patents | |
| Signed or stamped letter of authorization | Agents | |
| Chinese or English translations | Taobao and Tmall Group IPP, non-English documents | |
| Listing URLs, checked and still live | Each complaint | |
| Dated capture of each listing | Each complaint | |
| Comparison, test purchase report or analysis report | Each complaint |
For a general version that works on any marketplace, see our counterfeit evidence checklist.
How to submit your documents, step by step
- Register and verify your identity with the document that matches your account name.
- Open My IPR, then IPR Submission, and choose the type of right and the country of registration.
- Enter the details exactly as they appear on the certificate and upload the scan, including extra pages.
- Upload the authorization letter if you are an agent.
- Click Submit for verification and repeat for each right.
- Check IPR Management. If a right shows as failed, click Edit to see why, fix the document and resubmit.
How long verification takes
The international IPP says to allow up to three business days once both the identity and rights documents are submitted, and it does not start the review until both are in. Each right you add later goes through the same check. If a case is urgent, the IPP suggests using its online form, which accepts up to 50 listings per submission, while your account is being verified.
Common reasons evidence is rejected
- A name mismatch between the account, the identity document and the certificate.
- An expired right with no proof of renewal, or an owner change with no assignment certificate.
- A missing page, such as the class page of a trademark certificate or the content pages of a copyright registration.
- An authorization that is too narrow, for example a distribution agreement.
- Proof that does not point to the listing, such as a general statement that the seller is not authorized.
- Evidence raised too late. When you rebut a counter-notice on the international IPP, you can only address points the seller raised. Put your full case in the original complaint. Our guide to counter-notices explains why.
The limits of preparing evidence by hand
Rights documents are prepared once. Listing evidence is not: every complaint needs fresh URLs, captures and comparisons, and listings change or disappear between the moment you find them and the moment you file. Screenshots in folders rarely show the date, the seller or the price in a way a reviewer can check.
How Valigard can help before you report
Valigard searches marketplaces worldwide, including AliExpress, Alibaba.com and Lazada, with your official product photos. For each listing you mark as likely counterfeit, it records the URL and title, the price and currency, the seller and store page, the country and the photo match with your reference image, and it can save a timestamped copy of the page for $0.05. You can export an evidence pack as PDF or the list as CSV, and keep the report text and case number with each listing.
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New searchENValigard does not file complaints for you and does not determine with legal certainty that a product is counterfeit. It cannot guarantee that a platform will accept your evidence or remove a listing.
Frequently asked questions
Does Alibaba accept a pending trademark application?
No. The Alibaba International IPP accepts only registration certificates as proof of a right, and it tells applicants to wait until the registration is granted. The Taobao and Tmall Group IPP also refuses complaints based on applications that are still under examination.
Can I report copied product photos without a copyright registration?
Yes. The Alibaba International IPP accepts claims based on unregistered copyright if you complete its Copyright Claim Statement template and upload the work. In the registration number field, you may enter N/A. You then point to the exact images in the listing that copy your work.
Is a test purchase required for a counterfeit complaint?
Not always, but it is strong evidence. The IPP asks for an objective basis for calling a product counterfeit. Lazada lists a test purchase or purchase review comparison as supporting information, and the Taobao and Tmall Group IPP has a dedicated Test buy complaint reason with a report template.
Do documents need to be translated into English or Chinese?
On the Taobao and Tmall Group IPP, yes: documents that are not in Chinese or English must come with a Chinese or English translation. The international IPP pages we reviewed do not state a translation rule, but an English translation helps the reviewer and avoids delays.
What proof do I need for a patent complaint on Alibaba?
The patent certificate and an infringement analysis report that explains, in plain language, what the patent protects and shows each protected feature in the accused product. Chinese design and utility model patents dating from 2010 onward also need a favorable patent evaluation report from CNIPA.
Sources
- Alibaba International IPP Platform: Instructions and required materials
- Alibaba International IPP Platform: FAQ, IPR Verification
- Taobao and Tmall Group IPP: What is Test buy?
- Lazada IP Protection: IP Protection Platform, A Guide for Rights Holders (2024)
Last reviewed 27 Sep 2026. Marketplace procedures change; check the official pages before you file. This guide is general information, not legal advice.