WASHINGTON (TIP)-E-commerce sites operated by China’s Tencent and Alibaba Group were included on the U.S. government’s latest “notorious markets” list of entities that allegedly sell or facilitate the sale of counterfeit goods, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said on Thursday, February 17. The list identifies 42 online markets and 35 physical markets that are reported to engage in or facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy.
“This includes identifying for the first time AliExpress and the WeChat e-commerce ecosystem, two significant China-based online markets that reportedly facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting,” the USTR office said in a statement. China-based online markets Baidu Wangpan, DHGate, Pinduoduo, and Taobao also continue to be part of the list, along with nine physical markets located within China “that are known for the manufacture, distribution, and sale of counterfeit goods,” the USTR office said. The list highlights online and physical markets that reportedly engage in or facilitate substantial trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy. Alibaba said it will continue working with government agencies to address concerns in intellectual property protection across its platforms. Source: Reuters