Amazon, IPR Center, and the Sale Counterfeit Goods

People, as well as companies, generate billions of dollars by selling various fake products. Recently, Amazon made an important announcement. The tech giant partnered with the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center). Their focus was on stopping counterfeit goods from entering the U.S. Importantly, the partnership will use intelligence gathered from Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit, logistics company DHL, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP).

“Operation Fulfilled Action” relies on Amazon’s dominant positioning as both a distributor and marketplace for products. In the past, IPR Center and Amazon used to share information as well. Moreover, they worked together to tackle fraud related to the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, this new operation marks a more long-term partnership.

Interestingly, prior to the tech giant’s involvement, IPR Center’s focus on securing the global supply-chain might be unfamiliar to the average person. However, the government warning that plays before every DVD and Blu-Ray was created by IPR Center.

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Amazon and its approach to counterfeit products

According to the information provided by Amazon, it already investigated and removed potentially fraudulent offenders. Importantly, a partnership with these new agencies should allow the company to go further and stop counterfeit products at the border. Notably, thanks to this partnership, it will be possible to stop such products regardless of where bad actors were intending to offer them.

As a reminder, the tech giant’s more aggressive stance started in earnest with its launch of the Counterfeit Crimes Unit earlier this year. Interestingly, it is a part of a move from the company to proactively investigate sellers offering counterfeit goods, rather than removing them after the fact. It is no secret that such products represent a serious issue for companies. Importantly, the Tech giant already took legal action against some sellers this month for offering counterfeit products on both Amazon Marketplace and Instagram.

Unfortunately, there is no lack of counterfeit products in the U.S. as well as in other countries. It is all but impossible to eradicate this issue due to its complex nature. However, Amazon and other world-famous companies have the opportunity to reduce the damage caused by such products. Moreover, step-by-step, it is possible to identify sellers that break the rules. Also, companies should join forces with law enforcement agencies to protect customers from counterfeit products. This way, it will be easier to minimize the damage as well as to boost the economy.