TikTok Shop and IPOPHL hold the IP Bootcamp to educate sellers and rights holders on essential intellectual property rights knowledge.
In celebration of World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, TikTok Shop has partnered with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) to strengthen intellectual property (IP) education for merchants and reinforce protection efforts in digital marketplaces. The collaboration aims to promote safer, more secure online shopping experiences.
As part of its ongoing commitment to intellectual property rights (IPR) and its role as a signatory of IPOPHL’s e-Commerce Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), TikTok Shop organized an IP Bootcamp in partnership with IPOPHL. This initiative provided sellers and rights holders with practical tools and guidance on protecting their brands within the TikTok Shop ecosystem.
“At TikTok Shop, we see strong intellectual property protection as a cornerstone of a trustworthy online marketplace,” said Simoun Salinas, Public Policy Manager at TikTok Shop. “Our efforts, including the IP Bootcamp and collaboration with IPOPHL, highlight our ongoing commitment to authenticity and brand integrity in e-commerce.”
James Cheah, TikTok Shop Brand Protection Manager, joins representatives from Lipa City Colleges and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) at the Unreal Campaign.
The bootcamp focused on best practices for enforcing IPR, helping participants learn how to identify and report violations, use the platform’s brand protection tools, and remain compliant with relevant policies.
Attendees also received an in-depth introduction to the TikTok Shop IP Protection Center (IPPC)—a centralized web-based portal where brand owners can monitor and safeguard their IP rights on the platform. Topics also included anti-counterfeiting strategies, the Notice and Takedown process, and discussions on broader challenges in the digital commerce landscape.
Atty. Nathaniel S. Arevalo, IPOPHL Deputy Director General for Policy, Legal Affairs and External Relations, echoed this sentiment: “Protecting IP in the digital space requires cooperation among platforms, government agencies, and rights holders. Initiatives like this bootcamp equip online businesses with the knowledge they need to secure their innovations and retain consumer confidence.”
Educating the next generation
TikTok Shop is also a proud partner in the International Trademark Association’s (INTA) Unreal Campaign, which focuses on educating students about the dangers of counterfeit goods and the value of trademarks. As part of the campaign, TikTok Shop engaged with students at Lipa City Colleges (LCC), teaching them how intellectual property rights affect businesses, consumers, and society at large.
“We commend INTA, IPOPHL, and TikTok Shop for their efforts in making intellectual property more accessible to students,” said Eric Masupil, Senior High School Principal at LCC Silvercrest School. “We’re proud to support this valuable initiative.”
Advancing platform-wide IP enforcement
TikTok Shop continues to improve its IPR protection systems with robust policies and enforcement mechanisms aimed at keeping counterfeit products off the platform. From July 2023 to June 2024, the platform preemptively blocked over 5.2 million products before listing and removed nearly 500,000 additional items due to IP violations.
The company also took action against more than 294,000 livestreams and 503,000 videos linked to IP infringement. (Source: TikTok Shop IPR Report, October 2024)
The IP Protection Center processed over 188,000 IPR reports in the past year alone. In efforts to uphold platform standards, TikTok Shop has also permanently banned more than 32,500 creators and influencers for repeated IPR breaches.
Consumer awareness is another vital aspect of TikTok Shop’s IP strategy. Through its #TikTokShopSmart campaign, the platform aims to inform buyers about identifying counterfeit products and choosing authentic brands, ultimately fostering a more informed and secure shopping community.