AliExpress is one of the most widely used consumer marketplaces in the world, which makes it a predictable target for counterfeit sellers. If your products are being sold there without authorisation, or if someone is trading on your brand name with fake goods, you have a structured way to fight back. It does not require a lawyer, and it does not require you to contact AliExpress directly through their consumer-facing support.
The route that works is Alibaba's IP Protection Platform (IPP), a dedicated web-based enforcement system that covers AliExpress listings alongside other Alibaba International platforms. This article focuses specifically on AliExpress retail listings. If you are dealing with Alibaba.com B2B sourcing or 1688.com, that is a separate process covered in our guide to Alibaba and 1688 counterfeit monitoring.
The key point: the IPP platform is the correct channel for AliExpress takedown requests, and it processes the majority of valid complaints within 24 hours once your account is verified.
How the Alibaba IPP Platform Works for AliExpress
The Alibaba International Digital Commerce Group IP Protection Platform is a centralised notice-and-takedown system. It is not a general support inbox. It is built specifically for rights holders to submit, track, and manage IP infringement complaints across Alibaba's consumer platforms, including AliExpress.
Once your account is verified, the system lets you:
- Submit takedown requests against specific AliExpress listings
- Track the status of each complaint in real time
- Respond to any counter-notices filed by the seller
- Review your enforcement history
Your identity and IP rights documents are verified once and stored, so you do not need to re-upload them for every subsequent complaint. That matters when you are dealing with multiple listings or recurring sellers.
What IP Rights Are Accepted
AliExpress accepts takedown requests based on several types of intellectual property:
- Registered trademarks (the most common basis for counterfeit complaints)
- Copyright (including product photography, packaging design, and original creative assets)
- Patents (utility and design patents)
- Design registrations
If you are submitting on behalf of a rights holder rather than as the rights holder yourself, you will also need a letter of authorisation or power of attorney from the brand owner. The platform will not process third-party submissions without this.
Jurisdiction and Cross-Border Listings
One question that comes up regularly: what if the seller is based in China but shipping to your market?
What generally matters is whether your rights cover the market where the listing is offered, not where the seller is based. If you hold a registered trademark in the UK, EU, or US, you can usually report AliExpress listings offered to buyers in those markets, even if the seller operates from overseas. Check the IPP guidance for the specific listing before you file. Your trademark registration certificate is the evidence that establishes your rights in that territory.
What Evidence You Need Before You Submit
A weak complaint gets rejected or delayed. Before you file anything, gather the following.
Proof of Identity
- For individuals: a copy of a national identity document or passport
- For businesses: a copy of your business registration certificate or company licence
Proof of IP Ownership
- Official trademark certificate(s) showing the registered mark, the territory, and the registration number
- Copyright claim statement if you are asserting copyright over unregistered works (product images, for example)
- Patent certificate or design registration document if relevant
Evidence of the Infringing Listing
- The direct URL of each AliExpress listing you are reporting
- Screenshots of the listing, including the product title, images, price, and seller details
- Dated screenshots showing the listing was live at a specific point in time
- Any side-by-side comparison that demonstrates the product is counterfeit rather than a legitimate parallel import
Why this matters: AliExpress sellers can file counter-notices if they believe your complaint is unfounded. A well-documented complaint with clear evidence of infringement is far harder to counter than a vague submission. If you want a more detailed walkthrough of building a solid evidence file, our guide on building a counterfeit seller evidence file covers the full process.
For broader context on how the reporting process works across other platforms without involving legal counsel, the guide on removing counterfeits from Amazon, eBay and Alibaba without a lawyer is worth reading alongside this one. Note that it covers the Alibaba reporting portal specifically, whereas this article is focused on AliExpress consumer listings.
The Step-by-Step Reporting Process
Once your evidence is ready, the process on the IPP platform follows a clear sequence.
- Register an account at ipp.aidcgroup.net using your email address. You can also log in with an existing AliExpress account.
- Complete IPR authentication by uploading your identity documents and IP rights certificates. This verification step happens once.
- Select AliExpress as the platform where the infringing listing is found.
- Submit the listing URLs along with your supporting evidence and a description of how the listing infringes your rights.
- Monitor the complaint status through your account dashboard. The platform notifies you of any counter-notices from the seller, which you will need to respond to within the specified window.
- Receive confirmation of removal once the complaint is upheld and the listing is taken down.
If a seller files a counter-notice and the platform upholds it, the listing may be reinstated. At that point, you can strengthen your submission with additional evidence or consider escalating through legal channels.
Note: Use the IPP platform rather than general customer support or email. It is faster and gives you a full audit trail, which is useful if you need to escalate later.
Dealing with Repeat Sellers on AliExpress
Getting one listing removed is the easy part. The harder problem is the seller who relists the same product, or opens a new storefront, within days of a successful takedown.
AliExpress applies escalating penalties to stores that repeatedly infringe IP, which can end in the store being suspended or closed. This is meaningful, but it depends on you continuing to file and win complaints against the same seller, which takes time and consistent monitoring.
A few practical points on repeat sellers:
- Document the seller's store name, seller ID, and storefront URL at the time of your original complaint. If they relist under the same account, you have a direct record to reference.
- If the seller opens a new account to evade enforcement, the evidence pattern across listings (same product images, same descriptions, same pricing) can support a stronger complaint that references the prior infringement history.
- Keep dated screenshots of each relisted product. These build a pattern of behaviour that is useful if you need to escalate beyond the IPP platform.
The reality is that manual monitoring of AliExpress at scale is time-consuming. Brands dealing with high volumes of counterfeit listings typically need a systematic approach rather than reactive, listing-by-listing reporting. Our article on stopping repeat counterfeit sellers after the first takedown goes into more detail on building that kind of enforcement structure.
When Platform Reporting Is Not Enough
The IPP platform works well for clear-cut cases where your IP rights are registered and the infringing listing is straightforward to identify. It is less effective when:
- You are monitoring a large number of marketplaces simultaneously and cannot keep up manually
- Sellers are evading detection by rotating product images or slightly altering brand names
- You need to act quickly across multiple listings before a seasonal sales spike
This is where ongoing, automated monitoring becomes relevant. Remove.tech's brand protection platform monitors AliExpress and other marketplaces continuously, identifying infringing listings and managing takedown workflows so your team is not doing this manually at scale. If you are finding the volume of AliExpress counterfeits difficult to manage through the IPP platform alone, it is worth understanding what a structured enforcement programme looks like. A free brand audit shows how many AliExpress listings are already using your brand.
FAQ
Can I report AliExpress counterfeits without a registered trademark?
Yes, if you are asserting copyright over original creative works such as product photography or packaging design. A registered trademark is the strongest basis, but copyright and design registrations are also accepted.
How long does AliExpress take to process a complaint?
According to Alibaba International's 2025 Intellectual Property Rights Protection Annual Report, 95% of notices for AliExpress, Alibaba.com and Lazada were processed within 24 hours on business days.
What happens if the seller files a counter-notice?
The platform forwards the counter-notice to you for a response. If it is upheld, the listing may be reinstated. You can submit additional evidence or escalate through legal channels.
Can I report multiple listings in one submission?
Yes. The IPP platform accepts multiple listing URLs within a single complaint.
Does reporting to AliExpress affect the same seller's listings on other platforms?
No. Each platform operates its own enforcement process. A successful AliExpress takedown does not automatically remove the seller's listings elsewhere.
