Summary
TikTok added four explicit documentation requirements for utility patent infringement claims: proof of ownership/license, patent copies, specific infringing URLs/links, and detailed claim charts mapping products to patent infringement.
Why it matters
Sellers accused of patent infringement now face heightened evidentiary burden. Patent holders must provide more rigorous documentation to substantiate claims. Incomplete submissions may be rejected, delaying enforcement or increasing disputes over patent claim validity.
Recommended action
If selling products with patentable designs or methods, audit listings for potential utility patent risks. Patent holders should prepare claim charts and documentation templates in advance to ensure notices meet TikTok's new specificity standards.
Proof of ownership of, or exclusive license to, the patent(s) that are alleged to have been infringed
Copies of the patent(s) that are alleged to have been infringed
Copies of the specific URLs or links to Tik Tok content or Tik Tok Shop pages that are requested to be taken down
A claim chart for each patent, explaining how the product(s) featured in the identified URLs or links infringe your patent. The product(s) analyzed in the claim chart must be the same as those in the submitted URLs or links
No content was removed in this update.
Affects: Seller, Listing
