How To Avoid Copyright Infringement Violations

Scope\nThis policy applies to all sellers and creators on TikTok Shop globally.\n\nIntroduction\nThis guide is designed to help you understand and avoid copyright violations. TikTok 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 copyright.
Key Points\n• Always use original content.\n• Ensure products are authentic.\n• Never sell pirated goods.

What is copyright?

Copyright is a legal right that protects original, creative works (such as photos, text, music, and videos). Copyright protection is automatic and begins as soon as the original work is made. It does not require registration, notice, or publication to be protected. Examples of copyrighted works include (but are not limited to):

For example, a photographer is hired to shoot photos of people modeling a brand's dresses. These photos are protected by copyright and cannot be used without the photographer's clear permission.

• Product images, photos, and videos.
• Product descriptions .
• Packaging designs and layouts.
• Illustrations, graphics, prints, and artwork.
• Literary and musical works (for example, song lyrics).
• Choreographic works (for example, dance moves).
• Graphic, pictorial, and sculptural works (for example, maps, technical drawings).
• Audiovisual works (for example, videos, sound recordings).
  

What is copyright infringement?

Copyright infringement occurs when a copyrighted work is used without its owner's clear permission. Altering the work or using only part of it does not necessarily avoid infringement. Violations may lead to enforcement actions. These actions vary based on the severity of the infringement and may escalate for repeat offenses, ranging from product takedowns to account suspension. For example, a less severe infringement might be using a small, uncredited image in a product listing, while a more severe infringement would be selling pirated copies of software. Examples of copyright infringement include:

• Using product photos, images or videos in a product listing that were taken from another source without the copyright owner's explicit consent.
• Selling products that feature or include copyrighted material without the copyright owner's explicit consent.

Examples of copyright infringement

Piracy

Piracy occurs when copyrighted works are copied, used, or distributed without permission. This includes reproducing, selling, streaming, or sharing works like movies, music, software, games, and books. TikTok Shop strictly prohibits any form of piracy. Examples include:

• Selling photocopied versions of a textbook authored by someone else.
• Selling pirated copies of video games that were developed by another company.
• Selling posters or artwork copied from someone else's original design without permission.
• Selling apparel or accessories featuring copyrighted artwork or characters without permission.

Unlawful access

Unlawful access happens when someone gains access to copyrighted works without permission. This often involves using tools to bypass access conditions (paywalls, digital locks, etc.) imposed by the copyright owner. TikTok Shop strictly prohibits the promotion or sale of any product that enables unlawful access to copyrighted works. Examples include:

• Selling a jailbroken mobile phone that allows the user to download pirated software.
• Promoting a TV box that provides free access to subscription-based services.

Tips to avoid copyright infringement

These tips are not intended as legal advice. They also do not cover every step you may need to take to avoid copyright infringement.

✅ Dos

• List only original and authentic products:
  • Purchase directly from the source (for example, a video game developer or software developer) or authorized resellers and distributors (for example, a publishing house).
  • Check where your supplier sourced the products, and ask for proof of permission when needed.
  • Compare prices on other platforms. If your supplier’s price is significantly lower than the typical range, the product may be pirated and should not be listed.
• Ensure your product packaging is original, and has unique designs, layouts, and descriptive text .
  • The design refers to the look and appearance of the packaging.
  • The layout refers to where and how your product's features appear on the packaging.
  • The descriptive text refers to the information on the packaging about your product's benefits, capabilities, and functions.
• Verify the originality of products using image recognition tools.
  • Consider scanning your products using image recognition software like Google Lens. If products with similar "looks" or packaging appear in the search results, it may indicate copyright infringement and the product should not be listed.

⛔ Don'ts

• Avoid using product images, videos, and descriptions that were taken from web searches or on other e-commerce platforms without the owner’s permission. Always use original images, videos, and descriptions in your product listings.
• Minor alterations to images to avoid detection are not allowed either. These include cropping, color adjustment, using filters, or adding watermarks or text.