For sellers in the clothing category, the most common problem is image infringement. Because there are so many clothing styles, few sellers apply for appearance patents for a particular style. It is easy for sellers to step on the “red line” through 1688 or on-site product selection. As long as the other party provides the original picture, Amazon will first send a warning letter. If there is a second time, the listing will be directly removed. In addition, sellers should also pay attention to trademark infringement. The trademarks here not only refer to the trademarks of big brands such as NIKE and ZARA, but also include the trademarks of some small category sellers on Amazon.
The handling method still refers to the original principle. If the seller does use the copyright owner’s picture, the contact information of the complaining party will be provided in Amazon’s warning letter. At this time, the seller should take the initiative to delete or replace the picture, apologize to the other party by email, and provide corresponding handling solutions. For example, promise not to use the other party’s picture, or ask whether it can be used for a fee. The best solution is to make more inquiries when selecting products and try to avoid such problems. Specifically, there are several methods.
(1) Compare the purchasing factories. When selecting products, sellers can directly ask the factory about the source of the pictures and follow up on the purchase quantity to determine whether there are other sellers selling the same products. At the same time, sellers can compare multiple factories to obtain more comprehensive information.
(2) Avoid using logos. Some niche products will add their own logos as design elements to the products, such as Champion embroidered sweatshirts. If the seller cannot determine the brand in time, it is easy to infringe.
(3) Brands can search for pictures through the complaint page. For products without patents, sellers can check whether the producers of similar products have patents.
(4) Use patent search tools, such as the USPT official website, to reduce the risk of complaints after the product is put on the shelves.