The sale of counterfeit goods on online marketplaces poses a major threat to businesses and intellectual property (IP) owners. But eBay’s Verified Rights Owner (VeRO) Program offers an effective solution that aims to combat this issue by helping rights holders to report and remove any infringing listings. This blog will guide you through the steps to join eBay’s VeRO Program, highlight the benefits of the program, and share best practices so that you can maximize your protection on eBay.
What is the VeRO Program?
The VeRO Program is eBay’s initiative to help IP rights owners protect their content from infringement on the marketplace. It allows rights holders, including brands, artists, and copyright owners, to report and remove listings that violate their IP rights.
The program supports the enforcement of legally binding trademarks, copyrights, and patents so that unauthorized or counterfeit items are taken down as quickly as possible. By joining the VeRO Program, IP owners can protect and uphold the integrity of their brands and reduce the spread of counterfeit goods online. In turn, this works to increase consumer trust and safeguard the revenue streams of legitimate brands.
Who can join the VeRO Program?
To join eBay’s VeRO Program, you must be the owner of intellectual property rights, a trademark owner, copyright holder, patent owner, or their legally authorized representative. Businesses and organizations with exclusive rights to distribute or license specific IPs can also be eligible. To apply, you need to provide documentation that proves your ownership or your authority to act on behalf of the IP owner.
What intellectual property types are covered by the VeRO Program?
The VeRO Program covers a wide range of intellectual property types to offer universal protection for rights holders. By covering key IP types, the VeRO Program allows rights owners to report and remove listings that infringe on their trademarks, copyrights, patents, and design rights. This helps them to maintain the integrity and value of their intellectual property on eBay.
These are the main IP types:
- Trademarks protect brand names, logos, and symbols that define or represent goods and services.
- Copyrights safeguard original works of authorship, such as literary, musical, and artistic creations.
- Patents cover inventions and innovations, providing exclusive rights to the inventor.
- Design rights protect the visual design of objects that are not purely created to be functional.
How to join eBay’s VeRO Program
It’s easy for rights holders to join eBay’s VeRO Program. You just need to follow these steps:
1. Gather documentation
Ensure you have proof of IP ownership, such as trademark registration or copyright certificates.
2. Visit the VeRO page
Go to eBay’s VeRO Program page here. On this page, you can also view all existing VeRO participant profiles.
3. Download NOCI form
Find and download the Notice of Claimed Infringement (NOCI) form here.
4. Complete the form
Fill out the NOCI form with accurate details about your IP and the infringements.
5. Submit the form
Once you have completed the form, download and save it to your computer. Then email the completed form and your proof of IP ownership to eBay at vero@ebay.com.
6. Wait for confirmation
eBay will review your submission and confirm your participation in the program.
After you report: What to expect
Once you submit the NOCI form, eBay’s team will review your report. They assess the validity of your claim and the documentation you have provided. If the report is accepted, eBay will remove the infringing listings quickly. You will then receive a confirmation email that details the actions eBay has taken.
In some cases, eBay may contact you for additional information or clarification. If the report is denied, you will be notified with an explanation as to why they have made this decision. There is also an option for the person you have filed a claim against to appeal the decision to remove their listing. Following this process means that legitimate IP rights are protected on eBay while ensuring that it remains a fair marketplace for all users.
Benefits of joining the VeRO Program
Joining eBay’s VeRO Program offers several significant benefits for intellectual property owners
who want to protect their assets and maintain a fair marketplace for all buyers and sellers.
Proactive protection
VeRO lets rights holders swiftly identify and remove counterfeit listings and infringements on eBay. This reduces the risk of unauthorized sales and protects buyers against fake products.
Brand integrity
By removing counterfeit items, you can help to maintain the integrity and reputation of your brand, which in turn promotes consumer trust.
Revenue protection
Eliminating the sale of counterfeit goods helps to preserve your own sales and market share by guaranteeing that customers can only purchase genuine products.
Legal support
The VeRO program provides a streamlined process for reporting infringements, which makes it easier to enforce your IP rights.
Enhanced monitoring
The advanced tools and dedicated team support offered by eBay’s VeRO program includes continuous monitoring of the marketplace for potential IP violations. So once you’re a registered participant in the program, any fake listings are more likely to be detected and removed quickly.
Best practices for VeRO Participants
To maximize the benefits of eBay’s VeRO Program and make sure that your brand is compliant with its policies, be sure to follow these best practices:
- Always have up-to-date proof of your IP rights, such as trademark certificates or copyright registrations, readily available.
- Consistently monitor eBay for infringing listings to address any issues promptly.
- When submitting a NOCI form, provide as detailed and accurate information about the infringement as possible to facilitate a smooth review process.
- Keep up clear and professional communication with eBay’s VeRO team and any sellers involved in the reported listings.
- If a seller disputes a takedown notice, make sure you provide additional evidence and maintain a calm, factual approach. You should be prepared to appeal decisions if necessary.
- Stay up to date with eBay’s policies and updates to make sure that your practices are always compliant with their guidelines.
How to automatically report intellectual property infringements on eBay
For large-scale IP issues, Red Points Marketplace Solution is designed to efficiently manage and protect your intellectual property on eBay. This advanced technology uses API connections with eBay to enable automated and scalable reporting of IP infringements. By taking a proactive approach to brand protection, safeguarding your brand, customers, and revenue from counterfeit goods and unauthorized sales is faster, easier, and more effective.
The Benefits of Red Points’ Marketplace Solution
Speed and efficiency
API connections allow for automatic configuration of data fields and fast reporting, which significantly reduces the time needed to remove infringing listings.
Scalability
As it is designed for businesses handling a high volume of IP infringements, Red Points Marketplace Solution can manage large-scale monitoring and enforcement with ease.
Reliability
As a trusted provider with API access, Red Points can ensure that your IP reports are handled promptly and accurately, bypassing traditional email or manual reporting forms.
Flat fee. No analyst hours
Detections and takedowns without analyst hours are required. Flat fee without hidden costs.
What’s next
As digital marketplaces continue to grow, protecting your intellectual property on eBay is essential. The VeRO Program provides a vital tool for IP owners to prevent the sale of counterfeit and unauthorized products. By joining the VeRO Program, you take proactive steps to safeguard your intellectual property, uphold the integrity and reputation of your brand, protect your revenue, and maintain consumer trust. But for large-scale IP issues, partnering with Red Points can enhance your efforts, providing automated and scalable solutions to effectively manage and enforce your rights – so you don’t have to do it manually.
Don’t wait until counterfeit goods damage your brand. Take action now and join eBay’s VeRO Program and ensure your intellectual property is protected. To see how Red Points can further support your IP protection strategy, request a demo of our Marketplace Solution today.
