Part 2: AliExpress RipOff Sellers

AliExpress: Fighting Intellectual Property Theft

AliExpress Piracy  Part 1  |  Part 2  |  Part 3  |  Part 4   |  Part 5  | Part 6 | Fight Back

 

Prints, bags, socks greeting cards, post cards, journals, note books, smart phone cases, posters, stickers, throw pillows, mugs, tote bags, t-shirts and hoodies and more

In the vast digital marketplace, it seems that pirates have found a new playground—one that stretches across the globe and targets unsuspecting creators like myself. With relentless determination, these modern-day marauders have infiltrated my authorized online boutique, mercilessly plundering the intellectual property designs that I’ve poured countless hours into crafting. From the initial spark of creativity to the painstaking processes of assembling, describing, keyword research, and promotion, each design represents a piece of my artistic soul.

Imagine my outrage when I stumbled upon my original creations being hawked in online stores nestled in far-off Asian metropolises like Danzhou, Chongqing, and Xiamen. These shops, often featuring bewildering arrays of stolen designs from various artists, can showcase up to 3,000 items each! With the help of Google Images, tracking down these intellectual property thieves becomes a digital odyssey. What might start as a simple search for my designs quickly reveals a web of piracy, with one notorious player leading the charge: AliExpress.

AliExpress, a sprawling online marketplace, gives individual sellers a platform to reach buyers worldwide. However, it also serves as a haven for those who wish to profit from the creativity of others. Many of these shops bear unglamorous names composed of jumbled numbers, likely a tactic to evade detection after facing repeated takedown requests. Yet, a few quirky stores like LorraineLiving Store or PureDesign Store have managed to endure the scrutiny, possibly due to some undisclosed connections with higher-ups in Beijing.

What sets AliExpress apart from other platforms, like Amazon, is its surprising transparency. Each shop provides accessible information, allowing me to uncover business names, addresses, establishment dates, and even the names of human representatives behind these shadowy storefronts. As I navigate this murky terrain, I find myself equipped with valuable intel that may lead to future confrontations with these purveyors of piracy.

Part I: AliExpress is a Bazaar of Bootlggers

In a twist of fate, I now have hundreds of my designs registered with AliExpress—an unintended consequence of discovering the rampant theft of my work. The registration process is laborious and often frustrating. It requires uploading various forms of identification, filling out copyright documents, and submitting images of the original designs—all for each individual piece. Yet, through patience and persistence, I’ve discovered that this registration arms creators like me with the power to combat these intellectual property thieves effectively.

Once registered, the next step involves identifying specific URLs of the infringing products and reporting them to AliExpress. As sellers accumulate copyright infringements, they face penalties, including the potential removal of their stores—a much-needed consequence for their unethical practices. While submitting to the regulations of a foreign corporate entity can feel disheartening, it’s a necessary step in navigating this global marketplace and a glimpse of what lies ahead.

Though the process may be tedious and at times humiliating, I am now equipped to make a dent in the rampant disregard for intellectual property rights. Below, I list a few of the many culprits who will soon face the consequences of their actions, and in doing so, I hope to shine a light on the larger issue of copyright infringement in the digital age. Together, we can reclaim our creativity and protect our designs from the clutches of these digital pirates.

Authorized Design: Lewis Chessmen

List of Fakes

  1. Felicelivingroom Store – Putian Yiqu Trading Co., Ltd, Legal rep: Huang Lingling, Established 2020-11-13; Licence
  2. Shop1103771406 Store – Xu Xia Shoes and Hats Firm; legal rep: Xu Xia, Est. 2024-05-10; Licence
  3. Shop1103883123 Store – Lin Hanru Luggage Store; legal rep: Lin Hanru, Est. 2024-05-24; Licence
  4. Shop1103843948 Store – Huang Furen Department Store Retail Supermarket; Legal rep: Huang Furen; Est 2024-05-13; Licence
  5. Shop1102710015 Store – Xue Yuzhen Shoes and Clothing Store; Legal Rep: Xue Yuzhen; Est 2023-03-09; Licence
  6. Shop1102762305 Store – Li Yuhang Garment Firm; Legal Rep: Li Yuhang; Est. 2023-03-14; Licence
  7. Shop1102790265 Store – Xue Ruicai Shoes and Clothing Store; Legal Rep: Xue Ruicai; Est. 2023-04-13; Licence
  8. Shop1102717116 Store – Huang Qunying Luggage Store; Legal Rep: Huang Qunying ; Est 2023-03-06; Licence
  9. Shop1103718274 Store – Lin Hanru Luggage Store; legal rep: Lin Hanru, Est. 2024-04-08; Licence
  10. Shop1102437198 Store – Xue Yuqin Commodity Store; Legal Rep: Xue Yuqin; Est 2022-10-20; Licence
  11. Shop1103712277 Store – Lin Hanzhu Bedding Store, Legal Rep. Lin Hanzhu; Est. 2024-04-08; Licence
  12. Shop1102339634 Store – Huanli E-Commerce Firm; Legal Rep: Yu Lihua; Est. 2022-09-14; Licence
  13. Shop1102487410 Store – Zheng Zhimin Commodity Firm; Zheng Zhimin; Est. 2022-11-22; Licence
  14. Shop1102339188 Store  – Four Dragons E-Commerce Firm; Chen Huarong; Est. 2022-09-14; Licence

Authorized Design: Horatio Nelson

List of Fakes

  1. Felicelivingroomstore – Putian Yiqu Trading Co., Ltd, Legal rep: Huang Lingling, Established 2020-11-13; Licence
  2. Shop1103784049 Store – Wu Yumei Commodity Store; Est. 2024-05-10; Licence
  3. Shop1103000270 Store – Putian Licheng District Rice Reading Trade Co. Ltd; Legal rep: Zheng Zhimin Est. 2023-07-19 ; Licence
  4. Shop1103717505 Store – Lin Hanzhu Cloth Shop; Est. 2024-04-08; Licence
  5. Shop1103438231 Store – Cai Zhizhong Shoes and Hats Store; Est. 2023-12-14; Licence
  6. Shop1103799040 Store – Wu Yumei Clothing Accessories Store (Individual Business); Est. 2024-05-10; Licence
  7. Shop1103773304 Store – Xu Xia Clothing Business; Est. 2024-05-10; Licence
  8. Shop1102677943 Store – Xue Yuzhen Daily Commodities Business Department; Est. 2023-01-30; Licence
  9. Shop1103864655 Store – Lin Maowei Bed Products Store; Est. 2024-06-03; Licence
  10. Shop1103740206 Store – Yu Xianyu Shoe and Clothing Store; Est. 2024-03-36; Licence
  11. Shop1103754428 Store – Liang Jinping Bedding Store; Legal rep: Leung Kim-ying; Est. 2024-04-30; Licence
  12. Shop1103774310 Store – Xu Xia Commodity Business Department; Legal Rep: Xu Xia; Est. 2024-05-10; Licence
  13. Shop1103859549 Store – Huang Xiuxiang Knitwear Store; Est. 2024-05-13; Licence
  14. Shop1103202062 Store – Li Dan Department Store Retail Supermarket; Est. 2023-06-21; Licence
  15. Shop1103995308 Store – Wang Xiaolei Textile Store; Est. 2024-07-04; Licence
  16. Shop1103833611 Store – Huang Furen Shoes and Hats Business Department; Est. 2024-05-13; Licence
  17. TshirtLink Store – Putian Huayue Trading Co., Ltd; Legal Rep. Gong Fa; Est. 2014-03-17; Licence

Authorized Design: Winston Churchill

List of Fakes

  1. Shop1103692168 Store – Guangdong Mingyi Legal Consulting Co. Ltd.; Legal Rep. Qiu Xiaojie; Est. 2024-01-03; Licence
  2. Shop1102525595 Store – Huang Chunxiang Commodity Store; Est. 2022-11-25; Licence
  3. Shop1103728472 Store – Yu Xianyu Knitwear Store; Est. 2024-03-06; Licence
  4. Shop1104030528 Store – Yu Liqiong Cloth Store; Est. 2024-07-17; Licence
  5. Shop1102398164 Store (major offender) – Danzhou Smear Department Store; Legal rep. Liu Hongjing; Est. 2021-09-07 ; Licence

Authorized Design: Margaret Thatcher

List of Fakes

  1. Felicelivingroom – Putian Yiqu Trading Co., Ltd, Legal rep: Huang Lingling, Established 2020-11-13; Licence
  2. Shop1103694177 Store – Reg. name: Guangdong Mingi Legal Consulting Co. Ltd., Legal Rep: Qiu Xiaojie; Est. 2024-01-03; Licence
  3. Shop4405087 Store – Reg. name: Xiamen Haibin Brothers Electronic Commerce Co. Ltd, Legal Rep. Huang Zhifu; Est. 2017-11-17; Licence
  4. Shop1103741220 Store (major offender) – Reg. name: Yu Xianyu Textile Store; Est. 2024-03-26; Licence
  5. Shop1103212689 Store – Reg. name: Chen Huazhen Textile Store; Est. 2023-10-11; Licence
  6. Shop1102398164 Store (major offender) – Danzhou Smear Department Store; Legal rep. Liu Hongjing; Est. 2021-09-07; Licence
  7. Shop1102456296 Store – Reg. name: Chen Yongliao Commodity Firm; Est. 2022-11-03; Licence
  8. Old School Store – Reg. name: Putian Huayue Trading Co. Ltd., Legal Rep. Gong Fa; Est. 2014-03-17; Licence
  9. Shop1103717505 Store (major offender) – Lin Hanzhu Cloth Shop; Est. 2024-04-08; Licence
  10. Shop1103882763 Store – Reg. name: Lin Jiayuan Shoe and Hat Store; Est. 2024-05-24; Licence
  11. Shop1102860231 Store – Reg. name: Huang Chunxiang Knitwear Shop; Est. 2023-05-04; Licence
  12. Shop1102398164 Store (major offender) – Danzhou Smear Department Store; Legal rep. Liu Hongjing; Est. 2021-09-07; Licence
  13. Shop1103845627 Store – Reg. name: Huang Furen Shoes and Hats Business Department; Est. 2024-05-13; Licence
  14. Shop1103720442 Store – Reg. name: Lin Hanzhu Commodity Store; Est. 2024-04-08; Licence

Authorized Design: Presidents of the United States (RB_Presidents-2020b) (CHART)

List of Fakes

  1. Lorraineliving Store – Reg. name: Putian Yiqu Not Trading Co., Ltd., Huang Lingling; Est. 2020-11-13; Licence
  2. Shop1103717505 Store (Repeat Offender) – Lin Hanzhu Cloth Shop; Est. 2024-04-08; Licence
  3. Shop1102456296 Store (Repeat Offender) – Reg. name: Chen Yongiiao Commodity Firm; Est. 2022-11-03; Licence
  4. Shop1103720442 Store (Repeat Offender) – Reg. name: Lin Hanzhu Commodity Store; Est. 2024-04-08; Licence
  5. Shop1103715454 Store (Repeat Offender) – Reg. name: Lin Hanzhu Knitwear Shop; Est. 2024-04-08; Licence
  6. Shop1103740495 Store (Repeat Offender) – Reg. name: Xiamen Xiang ‘an District Aso Clothing Store, Legal rep. Chen Huazhen; Est. 2024-04-29; Licence
  7. Shop1103741220 Store (Repeat Offender) – Reg. name: Yu Xianyu Textile Store; Est. 2024-03-26; Licence
  8. Shop1104028532 Store – Reg. name: Yu Liqiong Luggage Store; Est. 2024-07-17; Licence

Authorized Design: Presidents Of The United States (RB-POTUS-Socks)

List of Fakes

  1. Shop1102456296 Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Chen Yongiiao Commodity Firm; Est. 2022-11-03; Licence
  2. Shop1103736449 Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Yu Xianyu Luggage Store; Est. 2024-03-26; Licence
  3. Shop1104030729 Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Yu Liqiong Shoes and Clothing Store; Est. 2024-07-17; Licence
  4. Lorrainelingstore – Reg. name: Putian Yiqu Not Trading Co., Ltd., Huang Lingling; Est. 2020-11-13; Licence
  5. Tom-Cruise Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Xiamen Golden Durian Trading Co. Ltd, Legal Rep. Huang Xiuqin; Est. 2016-03-11; Licence
  6. Shop1103713474 Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Lin Hanzhu Clothing Auxillary Shop; Est. 2024-04-08; Licence
  7. Shop1103720442 Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Lin Hanzhe Commodity Store; Est. 2024-04-08; Licence
  8. Shop1103740495 Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Xiamen Xiang ‘an District Aso Clothing Store, Legal Rep. Chen Huazhen; Est. 2024-04-29; Licence
  9. Shop1103715454 Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Lin Hanzhu Knitwear Shop; Est. 2024-04-08; Licence
  10. Shop1102401083 Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Danzhou Smear Department Store, Legal Rep. Liu Hongjing; Est. 2021-09-07; Licence

Authorized Design: President John Adams

List of Fakes

  1. Shop1102456296 Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Chen Yongiiao Commodity Firm; Est. 2022-11-03; Licence
  2. Shop1103778598 Store (just one) – Reg. name: Wu Yumei Commodity Store; Est. 2024-05-10; Licence
  3. Shop1103715454 Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Lin Hanzhu Knitwear Shop; Est. 2024-04-08; Licence
  4. Shop1104037535 Store (just one) – Reg. name: Yu Liqiong Textile Store; Est. 2024-07-17; Licence
  5. Shop1103741220 Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Yu Xianyu Textile Store; Est. 2024-03-26; Licence
  6. Tom-Cruise Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Xiamen Golden Durian Trading Co. Ltd, Legal Rep. Huang Xiuqin; Est. 2016-03-11; Licence
  7. Shop1103740495 Store (repeat offender) – Reg. name: Xiamen Xiang ‘an District Aso Clothing Store, Legal rep. Chen Huazhen; Est. 2024-04-29; Licence
  8. Shop1103717505 Store (repeat offender) – Lin Hanzhu Cloth Shop; Est. 2024-04-08; Licence
  9. Shop1103995301 Store (just one) – Reg. name: Wang Xiaolei Clothing Store; Est. 2024-07-04; Licence

President Ulysses S. Grant: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/17797878

Counterfeit Products:

President Howard Taft: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/18223212

Counterfeit Products:

President Harry S Truman: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/19373772

Counterfeit Products:

President Ronald Reagan: https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/19791379

Counterfeit Products:

Update: August 17, 2024, all the links to fake products above now lead to error pages which AliExpress has duly removed. Many of the violating stores continue to operate, including those which go over the 9 violation threshold which AliExpress pledges in its IPP policy leads to membership termination of violating sellers. So far, 451 complaints against pirated use of my intellectual property have been filed, as can been seen as part of this useful IPP dashboard provided by AliBaba:

Every day, however, new violations of existing register designs appear, and completely new unregistered designs are discovered (before being duly registered with AliExpress.) It has literally become a game of whack-a-mole.