How to File a Complaint on Alibaba's IP Platform (AIPP)

If someone is selling a product that infringes your patent on Alibaba, AliExpress, or Taobao, Alibaba's Intellectual Property Protection Platform (AIPP) provides a mechanism to report the infringement and request removal of the listing. For inventors whose products are manufactured in or sourced from China, AIPP enforcement is often faster and cheaper than litigation.

Before You Start

You will need:

• An AIPP account (register at ipp.alibabagroup.com)
• Proof of your IP rights — patent certificate, trademark registration certificate, or design registration
• The specific Alibaba/AliExpress/Taobao product listing URL(s) you want to report
• Evidence of infringement — a claims chart, visual comparison, or detailed explanation showing how the listed product infringes your specific patent claims or copies your registered design

Step 1: Register and Verify Your IP

1. Go to ipp.alibabagroup.com and create an account
2. Register your IP rights in the system — upload your patent certificate, trademark registration, or design registration
3. AIPP reviews and verifies your IP documentation (typically 1–3 business days)
4. Once verified, your IP is stored in the system and can be referenced in future complaints

Step 2: File a Complaint

1. Click "Submit Complaint" from your AIPP dashboard
2. Select the type of IP right being infringed (patent, trademark, copyright, or design)
3. Select the specific registered IP right from your verified portfolio
4. Enter the product listing URL(s) of the accused infringing product(s)
5. Upload evidence of infringement:

- For utility patents: A claims chart mapping your patent claims against the listed product's features — showing element-by-element correspondence - For design patents / registered designs: Side-by-side visual comparison of your registered design and the accused product listing images - For trademarks: Screenshots showing use of your registered mark or a confusingly similar mark

1. Provide a written explanation of the infringement (keep it clear and specific)
2. Submit the complaint

Step 3: Alibaba Reviews

Alibaba's IP team reviews the complaint — typically within 1–5 business days for straightforward cases, longer for complex patent claims. Three outcomes are possible:

Listing removed. If AIPP finds the complaint substantiated, the infringing listing is taken down. The seller is notified and may appeal.

More information requested. AIPP may ask for additional evidence, a more detailed claims chart, or clarification of the IP right. Respond promptly.

Complaint rejected. If AIPP determines the evidence is insufficient or the infringement is not clear, the complaint is rejected. You can refile with stronger evidence.

Step 4: Handle Counter-Notices

The seller has the right to file a counter-notice — arguing that their product does not infringe. If a counter-notice is filed, AIPP may restore the listing unless you respond with additional evidence or initiate legal proceedings within the specified timeframe (typically 15–20 business days).

Tips for Effective AIPP Complaints

Design patent complaints are resolved fastest. Visual comparisons are straightforward for AIPP reviewers. If you have both a utility patent and a design patent, lead with the design patent complaint — it is more likely to result in quick removal.

File in Chinese if possible. AIPP operates in both English and Chinese, but the review team is based in China. Complaints with Chinese-language claims charts and explanations may be reviewed more quickly.

Monitor for re-listing. Sellers frequently create new listings after removal. Set up monitoring alerts for your product keywords and check weekly for new infringing listings.

Consider Alibaba's "Good Faith Takedown" programme. For IP holders with a track record of successful complaints, Alibaba offers an expedited takedown process with reduced evidentiary requirements.

Pair AIPP with Chinese customs recordal. Register your patents and trademarks with China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) — this enables customs officers to detain suspected infringing goods before they leave China, complementing AIPP's platform-level enforcement.

Sources

1. Alibaba IP Protection Platform (AIPP) — Official platform for filing IP infringement complaints on Alibaba marketplaces
2. CNIPA — China Trademark and Patent Office — Chinese IP rights registration needed for AIPP complaints
3. WIPO — Online Dispute Resolution — Global frameworks for IP dispute resolution on e-commerce platforms