{"id":84453,"date":"2020-04-16T03:17:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T03:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sellerlogic.com\/blog\/is-it-all-just-stolen-eo-eo-the-amazon-policies-for-protecting-intellectual-property\/"},"modified":"2025-12-04T14:59:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T14:59:30","slug":"is-it-all-just-stolen-eo-eo-the-amazon-policies-for-protecting-intellectual-property","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sellerlogic.com\/en\/blog\/is-it-all-just-stolen-eo-eo-the-amazon-policies-for-protecting-intellectual-property\/","title":{"rendered":"“Is everything just stolen, eo, eo”? The Amazon policies for the protection of intellectual property"},"content":{"rendered":"

How did\u00a0Die Prinzen<\/em> sing? “Everything is just stolen and taken, just drawn and robbed. \/ Excuse me, I took the liberty.” What might just barely pass as an intertextual reference in art and culture can have far-reaching consequences for entrepreneurs and merchants: counterfeits, fakes, unauthorized brand use, and such things are no trivial offense. In their own online shop, cease-and-desist letters end up in the mailbox. But Amazon also has policies to prevent the misuse of intellectual property.<\/p>

In the worst case, merchants face complete suspension or deactivation of their seller account or the revocation of their selling rights, along with all the economic consequences that this can entail. The overall seller performance then becomes irrelevant, regardless of how good it may be and how low the cancellation rate or the number of late deliveries may be. Therefore, merchants should be meticulous in ensuring that they do not infringe on intellectual property rights. Germany and the European Union, in particular, have comparatively strict protection rights that every merchant must adhere to in order to avoid extensive legal consequences.<\/p>

This post, however, does not deal with national or international legal frameworks, but explicitly with the Amazon policies<\/a> regarding intellectual property, trademark rights, and product piracy.<\/p>

Only a qualified attorney<\/strong> can provide legal advice! If in doubt, be sure to consult one.<\/p><\/blockquote>

Why is it important for Amazon to protect intellectual property?<\/h2>
\"What<\/figure>

Amazon itself operates in two roles: first as a seller of (its own) goods, and second as a platform that enables third parties to trade products. As a seller, Amazon must, of course, also comply with the respective national copyright laws. But shouldn’t it be indifferent to the online giant as a platform if a merchant commits a copyright infringement?<\/p>

In fact, it is unclear to what extent compliance with the Amazon policies for intellectual property<\/a> is monitored and enforced on its own initiative. European merchants, in particular, often have the impression that action is not taken frequently enough against counterfeits of branded products or other abuses of copyright, especially regarding questionable offers from the Asian region.<\/p>

The fact is that Amazon itself has a legitimate interest in ensuring that copyright is upheld on its marketplaces and that the authenticity of items is guaranteed. The company’s goal is always to provide the perfect customer journey \u2013 if a customer receives a counterfeit item instead of the original product, it leads to frustration and disappointment, which in turn encourages returns and payment refunds. Moreover, such a customer may choose to order from the competition next time, resulting in lost revenue for the e-commerce giant, at least in the form of sales fees. It does not matter whether it concerns traded goods or private labels<\/a>.<\/p>

Another effect is that the actual rights holders also strive to prevent violations of their trademark rights. Not only can trademark owners directly report the infringement of their copyright, but they will also contact Amazon to enforce the policies for the protection of intellectual property and to remove abusive listings such as counterfeit goods.<\/p>

What is intellectual property at Amazon?<\/h2>

In principle, the online giant itself and any merchants are bound by the applicable laws of the respective country or economic area in which the goods are offered for sale. A merchant selling on the German marketplace must therefore be familiar with and comply with German law. For members of the European Union or the European Economic Area (EEA), which also includes Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein, European laws also play a role.<\/p>

The Amazon policies for the protection of intellectual property are also oriented towards this. The applicable copyright law and related legal provisions, such as patent law, are always decisive. Amazon divides its policies into different sections:<\/p>