Amazon Brand Protection Guide
Selling on Amazon can be exciting, but also stressful. Beyond ads, inventory, and listings, one issue often surprises sellers: the Amazon IP Complaint.
What Is an Amazon IP Complaint
An IP (intellectual property) complaint is when a brand or rights owner claims your listing violates their trademark, copyright, or patent. This can happen if:
- You use a brand’s name, slogan, or logo
- You upload copyrighted images or content
- You sell products that allegedly infringe a design or patent
While some complaints are valid, many are used unfairly by competitors, agencies, or even distributors to remove listings in competitive categories such as beauty, supplements, and electronics.
What Happens When You Get One?
Amazon doesn’t investigate who’s right or wrong. As soon as a complaint is filed:
- Your ASIN is suppressed
- Your listing disappears
- Sales stop immediately
If complaints pile up, Amazon may suspend your account, lower your Account Health, or even withhold payments. The responsibility to fix the issue always falls on the seller, even if your products are genuine.
Actions You Can Take Regarding This:
If the complaint is valid:
- Remove the ASIN right away
- Contact the brand to acknowledge the issue and request a retraction
- Submit a Plan of Action to Amazon explaining what went wrong, how you fixed it, and how you’ll prevent it
If the complaint is false:
- Respond politely with evidence (invoices, authorization, or trademark documents)
- If the brand ignores you, escalate to Amazon’s Notice Dispute team
- Keep all correspondence and records for at least 180 days
How to prevent issues:
- Research trademarks and patents before launching products
- Avoid using big brand names in keywords or packaging
- Stick to authorized suppliers and keep invoices ready
- Monitor your Account Health dashboard daily for new complaints
Final Thoughts
Amazon IP complaints can feel unfair, but they’re part of selling on the platform. The key is to stay proactive—build original branding, source carefully, and keep documentation ready.
Protecting your account health is just as important as driving sales. If you treat IP compliance as part of your daily routine, you’ll avoid costly disruptions and keep scaling your business with confidence.