Part 5: AliExpress Piracy

The Glaring Pattern of Intellectual Property Violations on AliExpress

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

As an artist, I have dedicated countless hours to developing unique designs that not only reflect my artistic vision but also contribute to the vibrant tapestry of creativity in our world. Unfortunately, my experiences with AliExpress—a platform that connects sellers in China with international buyers—have illuminated a troubling reality: a rampant culture of intellectual property violations that undermines the very essence of creativity and originality.

We’re all familiar with meddling bad actors in China actively interfering with political processes in western democracies. This is another form of meddling on the bottom dollar of small business in the west. It goes on unabated, and fuelled by mindless consumers who contribute to the bad behaviour by willingly ordering from them merely to save a few bucks and enrich foreign pirates and the corporate powers that enable them.

Over the past few weeks, I have registered 103 designs with AliExpress’ Intellectual Property Protection (IPP) platform. In this time, I have filed 489 notices of intellectual property theft, resulting in the removal of numerous links to infringing products. While these actions may seem effective on the surface, deeper investigation reveals a concerning trend that raises questions about the integrity of the system.

I have discovered that multiple stores on AliExpress—specifically those managed by individuals like Liu Hongling—are repeatedly violating my intellectual property. For instance, Liu operates several stores under generic names, each selling my designs without authorization. Collectively, these stores have racked up 18 violations, showcasing a blatant disregard for the rights of creators.

This behaviour is not isolated. A pattern emerges as I explore further; it appears that a handful of individuals manage numerous storefronts, creating a facade of legitimacy while continuing to profit from the hard work of others. For example, Lin Hanzhu, one of the most notorious violators (featured here), has amassed 90 violations across six different stores. The system allows these individuals to thrive, moving between stores and evading serious consequences.

The implications of this are profound. AliExpress claims to operate on a penalty system, where sellers accrue points for violations, leading to store closures after reaching a threshold. However, the reality is that many sellers simply shift to new stores before facing any substantial penalties. This “game of whack-a-mole” perpetuates a cycle of infringement, undermining the efforts of creators striving to protect their work.

Moreover, the licenses granted to these infringing sellers often date back only a few months, raising concerns about the vetting process employed by AliExpress. This lack of diligence allows counterfeiters to infiltrate the marketplace, offering consumers misleading options that harm both creators and the integrity of the market itself.

It is imperative that we recognize this behaviour as unethical and take a stand against it. As consumers and supporters of creativity, we must advocate for stronger protections for original works and hold platforms accountable for their role in perpetuating these violations. Together, we can combat this systemic issue and foster a culture that values and respects intellectual property.

I urge my readers to remain vigilant and informed. By supporting authentic creators and advocating for change, we can help create a marketplace where creativity is celebrated, and the rights of artists are upheld. Let us work together to combat this unethical behaviour and protect the integrity of our creative community.