What are Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)?

The protection of others' intellectual property rights is critical to keep our platform secure and safe. You should take note of the following types of Intellectual Property Rights:

• Trademarks
• Copyright
• Patents and Designs

What is IPR infringement?

IPR infringement may occur if creators use any of the protected material discussed above - the logos, images, designs, etc. - in the content they create without first getting appropriate owner’s consent.

How can I reduce the risk of patent and design infringements?

The following tips may help to reduce the risk of IPR infringement in the content you create. TikTok can not provide you with legal advice, so if you have questions or concerns regarding your rights or obligations, you may wish to seek independent legal advice.
You may want to consider undertaking the following:

• Respect intellectual property rights: Be mindful of and respect third party intellectual property rights. It is important to note that a lack of knowledge does not serve as a valid defense against IPR infringement. Accordingly, before using any material that may potentially be protected in your product or content, research whether they are protected by a design patent.
• Obtain permission: If you intend to use material that may be covered by IPR, consider seeking legal advice to understand how best to seek permission from the rights owner.
• Be original: Focus on creating original content and products.

What would happen if I commit an IPR infringement?

Please read our Reporting IPR Infringements Article to learn more about the reporting process.
If you have committed an IPR infringement, you may be subject to enforcement actions.
If you receive a notice or warning of infringement and believe the rights owner or TikTok Shop made an error, you may appeal or dispute the claim by raising a ticket/appeal in the TikTok App. For more information on the appeals process, please refer to the Creator Appeals Guidelines. Please refer to the section on Supporting Documents for Appeal for information on the documentation you may require.