Best Practices

Examples of trademarks What is trademark infringement?

Examples of trademark infringement Counterfeits Knockoffs Infringement of registered name, image, or likeness

Examples of trademark infringement Counterfeits Knockoffs Infringement of registered name, image, or likeness

These tips are not intended as legal advice and do not provide an exhaustive account of all the steps you may need to undertake to avoid trademark infringement.

✅ Dos Provide accurate brand information when creating a listing.

Do not select "no brand" as this may result in violation points (penalties issued for policy violations).

This means the brand must be the same across the product title, images, videos, description, and brand field.

Any inconsistency may result in points deducted from your Account Health Rating (a metric that measures your performance as a seller), so be diligent about this.

Co-branded products are products that feature multiple brands.

If you are selling a product that supports the function of a branded product (for example, razor refills for X brand's twin-blade razor).

Use terms like "for", "made for", "intended for", "applicable for", "compatible with", "fits with" to make it clear which product you are promoting.

If you are selling a product under a brand owned by a public figure (for example, X brand owned by Y celebrity), ensure you obtain Brand Authorization for both the brand and the public figure's right of publicity (the right to control the commercial use of one's identity) (X brand PLUS Y celebrity's name) if you intend to use the public figure's name or image in your product listing.

⛔ Don'ts Avoid using brands in your product listings (images, videos, or description) unless you have authorization to do so.

Examples include: Using stickers, smears, papers, text, or tape on products, tags, or packaging.

Examples include: Modifying or misspelling with numbers, symbols, or special characters (for example, T1KT@k).

Modifying by using alternative characters (for example, Tik T0k), repeating or switching characters (for example, Tiiiik Toook, Tok Tik), misspelling or shortening it (for example, Tik Tock, TT), or splitting it using spaces (for example, Tik Tok).

Keywords can include album names, song titles, nicknames, associated branding or products, and aliases.

How To Avoid Counterfeits, Knockoffs, And Other Trademark Infringement Violations 02/26/2026 Manage Product Intellectual Property Listing Restrictions Shop Health Tik Tok Shop maintains a strict policy against all forms of intellectual property (IP) infringement.

We prohibit the promotion and sale of products that infringe on third-party IP rights, including trademarks.

A trademark can be a word, logo, symbol, slogan, design, pattern, monogram, or any combination of these.

It identifies the source of a product and sets it apart from other products.

For example, a fashion brand uses a monogram on its dresses.

This constitutes a trademark that distinguishes the brand's dresses from other dresses.

Examples of trademarks Word Mark: A trademark that consists only of words, letters, or numbers, without any design, stylization, or logo.

In other words, it protects the text itself rather than how it looks visually.

For example, "Tik Tok" or any other brand name.

It covers the way the mark appears (its design, color, and layout), not just the words themselves.

For example, the Tik Tok logo: Slogan or Phrase Mark: A trademark that protects a short phrase or tagline used to identify a brand or its products.

For example, Tik Tok's main tagline, "For you, by you."Pattern or Position Mark: A trademark that protects the distinctive patterns or the specific placement of a design, logo, or color on a product.

It protects where and how they are affixed to the product, not the product itself or the design, logo, or color.

For example, a fashion brand that uses a specific color on the soles of their womens' footwear.

It can include the product's shape, color, texture, graphics, layout, or any combination of these elements.

Trademark infringement occurs when a trademark is used without its owner's explicit consent.

Even if the trademark is altered or only partially used, that act may still amount to infringement.

This includes products advertised with descriptions like "dupes," "similar to," "replicas," or "inspired by".

Using a public figure's trademarked name, image, or likeness without their explicit consent.

Using a famous cartoon character without explicit consent from its owner.

Refer to our Intellectual Property Policy for more information.

Examples of trademark infringement Counterfeits Counterfeit products are unauthorized, fake copies of branded products intended at deceiving customers into believing they are buying authentic items.

They are manufactured and use a brand's trademarks without consent.

Tik Tok Shop strictly prohibits and will take action against any form of counterfeiting.

This also includes: Advertising or selling counterfeit products.

Using or featuring a brand's trademark in your product listings, videos, and livestreams without the brand owner's consent.

Altering or removing trademarks to hide that a product is fake.

Any form of behavior or messaging through text, image, sound or video that implies the sale of counterfeit products.

Refer to our Intellectual Property Policy for more information.

Knockoffs Knockoffs, commonly known as "copycat" products, are imitation products made to look like branded products.

They are often cheaper and composed of lower-quality materials, with the intention of providing a similar look and feel without the high price tag.

They typically avoid using the brand's trademarks.

Nevertheless, they can still constitute trademark (and design patent infringement), if they look too similar to branded products and confuse customers about their source.

Refer to our Intellectual Property Policy for more information.

This occurs when a person’s trademarked name, image, voice, likeness, signature, or other personal attributes are used for sales or promotions without their explicit consent.

Examples include: Using a celebrity’s photo or name in promotional content without their consent.

Selling products that feature a music artist or athlete's name or image without their consent.

Refer to our Intellectual Property Policy for more information.

Promotional phrases that run foul of this rule include "inspired by X brand", "similar to", "as good as", "same features as", "it works the same as", "duplicate of", and "smells like".

Avoid descriptive terms such as replica, forged, mirror, copy, alike, duplicate, dupe, clone, like the original, as the original, imitation, high imitation, 1:1, mirror quality, lushentic grade, and factory leakage.

Avoid using brand names in hashtags (e.g., "#brand") to increase traffic, especially in video content.

This still counts as right of publicity infringement.

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