Amazon IP Claims: How to Prevent, Respond, and Protect Your Account

You check your email and see it: "Your listing has been removed due to a report of intellectual property infringement."

Your stomach drops. You start wondering if your whole account is at risk. You're not even sure what you did wrong—you bought the product legally and listed it just like dozens of other sellers.

If you've sold on Amazon long enough, you've either dealt with this already or know someone who has. IP complaints are one of the most common—and most stressful—account health issues sellers face. And they're not going away.

Here's the thing: most IP claims are preventable. And when they do happen, a fast, professional response can mean the difference between a minor bump and a suspended account.

This guide breaks down exactly how IP claims work, what triggers them, and how to protect yourself before a complaint ever lands in your inbox. And if you've already received one? We'll walk through the step-by-step response that gives you the best shot at a quick resolution.

Let's start with what an IP claim actually is—and why Amazon takes them so seriously.

What Is an IP Claim (And Why Should You Care)?

An Amazon IP complaint is a formal claim filed to Amazon by a brand owner that another seller is infringing on their intellectual property rights.

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations that legally belong to a person or company. On Amazon, IP issues typically fall into three categories:

• Trademarks – Brand names, logos, and slogans. Example: You can't put "Nike" in your listing title if you're not authorized to sell Nike products.
• Copyrights – Original images, text, and creative content. Example: Copying product photos or descriptions from another listing or the brand's website.
• Patents – Protected product designs or inventions. Example: Selling a knockoff of a patented kitchen gadget.

Here's what trips up a lot of sellers: It's not illegal to resell products you legally purchased. This is called the "first sale doctrine," and it's why retail arbitrage and wholesale exist in the first place.

But Amazon isn't a court of law. It's a private marketplace with its own rules. If a brand files a complaint, Amazon typically sides with the rights holder first and asks questions later. Fair or not, that's how it works.

Amazon takes IP complaints seriously, and sellers who violate these policies could face serious consequences, such as listing removal or account suspension.

What's Actually at Risk

A single IP complaint can lead to:

• Listing removal – Your ASIN gets taken down, killing sales immediately
• Account health hit – Too many complaints and your entire account is at risk
• Stranded inventory – Products sitting in FBA that you can no longer sell
• Suspension – In serious cases, Amazon shuts down your selling privileges entirely

IP Claims vs. Brand Restrictions: Know the Difference

These two get confused all the time, but they're not the same.

IP claims are reactive. A brand files a complaint after you've already listed and started selling. This hurts your account health metrics and requires you to respond to resolve it.

Brand restrictions are proactive. Amazon blocks you from listing certain products before you can even sell them. You'll need approval or "ungating" to list, but it doesn't hurt your account health.

If you can't list a product at all, that's a restriction. If your listing gets pulled after you're already selling, that's likely an IP claim. Understanding the difference helps you respond correctly—and avoid wasting time fighting the wrong battle.

Common Triggers That Get Sellers Flagged

Most IP complaints don't come out of nowhere. They follow patterns. Knowing what triggers them helps you avoid stepping on landmines before you list a single product.

Amazon categorizes three major types of IP policy violations: suspected intellectual property violations, received intellectual property complaints, and product authenticity customer complaints.

Using Brand Names or Logos Without Authorization

This is the most common trigger. You add a brand name to your title, bullets, or backend keywords thinking it helps with visibility. The brand sees it, files a complaint, and your listing disappears.

Even phrases like "compatible with [Brand]" or "fits [Brand] products" can cause problems if the brand is protective. Some sellers get away with it. Others get flagged immediately. It's not worth the gamble.

Copying Images or Descriptions From Other Listings

It feels harmless—the product is the same, so why not use the same photos and copy? But those images and descriptions are often owned by the brand or the original seller who created them.

Copying them is a copyright violation, even if you're selling the exact same item. Brands monitor this, and Amazon makes it easy for them to file takedown requests.

Sourcing From Unverified Suppliers

Liquidation pallets, gray-market wholesalers, and random suppliers with no clear connection to the brand are all risky sources. If you can't prove where your product came from—or that it's authentic—you're exposed.

When a brand files a claim, the first thing Amazon asks for is documentation. If your invoices are vague, missing supplier details, or from a company with no verifiable relationship to the brand, your defense falls apart fast.

Selling Products From Aggressive Brands

Some brands are notorious for filing complaints against any third-party seller, even if the product is 100% authentic. They don't want resellers on their listings, period.

These brands often have one thing in common: they're the only seller on the listing, or the listing is dominated by a handful of sellers with thousands of reviews. That's a sign they've already cleared out the competition through IP claims.

Jumping on Listings You Haven't Researched

It's tempting to jump on a high-BSR product without digging deeper. But if you're the new seller on a listing that's been tightly controlled, you're painting a target on your back.

Before you list, check how many sellers are on the ASIN. Look at who's winning the Buy Box. Search the brand name alongside "IP complaint" in seller forums. A few minutes of research can save you weeks of headaches.

How to Prevent IP Claims Before They Happen

You can't control whether a brand decides to file a complaint. But you can control how exposed you are when they do. Prevention comes down to four things: where you source, what you save, how you list, and how well you research.

Source Smart

Your supplier choice is your first line of defense.

Work with authorized distributors or directly with brands. This doesn't mean you need exclusive agreements—just a clear, documented relationship between your supplier and the brand. When you buy from a distributor who's authorized to sell the product, that authorization extends to you.

Keep detailed invoices. Every invoice should include:

• Supplier's business name and contact information
• Your business name
• Date of purchase
• Itemized list of products with quantities
• Product identifiers (UPC, model number, or ASIN if available)

Invoices that just say "assorted goods" or don't include supplier contact info are nearly useless if you need to defend yourself.

Watch for red flags when vetting suppliers. Be cautious if a supplier can't answer basic questions about their relationship with the brand, offers prices that seem too good to be true, or refuses to provide proper documentation. Saving a few dollars per unit isn't worth the risk.

Document Everything

Think of documentation as insurance you hope you never need—but will be grateful for if you do.

Save every invoice, receipt, and order confirmation. Create a simple system, whether it's folders on your computer organized by supplier or a cloud-based storage solution. The goal is to find any document within minutes, not hours.

Request letters of authorization when possible. Some suppliers will provide a letter confirming they're authorized to distribute a brand's products. This isn't always available, but when it is, it's gold.

Keep supplier communications. Emails or messages where a supplier confirms product authenticity or their authorization status can support your case if a claim is filed.

This habit takes minimal effort but makes a massive difference. Sellers who can produce clean documentation within 24 hours of a complaint have a much higher success rate getting claims resolved quickly.

Clean Up Your Listings

Sometimes the problem isn't your product—it's how you listed it.

Avoid trademarked terms unless you're authorized. Don't put brand names in your title, bullets, or description unless you have explicit permission to sell that brand. This includes subtle variations or abbreviations that clearly reference the brand.

Use your own product photos. Yes, it takes more effort. But original images eliminate copyright risk entirely. If you're doing retail or online arbitrage, take clear photos of the actual product you're selling. For wholesale, ask your supplier for images you're permitted to use—or take your own.

Write your own descriptions. Copying text from the brand's website or another seller's listing is copyright infringement. Describe the product in your own words. It doesn't need to be fancy—it just needs to be yours.

Check your backend keywords. Some sellers stuff competitor brand names into their backend search terms hoping to capture traffic. This is a fast way to trigger a complaint. Stick to generic, relevant keywords that describe the product.

Research Brands Before Listing

A few minutes of research can save you from weeks of problems.

Check the listing itself. How many sellers are on the ASIN? If it's just the brand or one seller with thousands of reviews, that's a warning sign. They've likely removed other sellers through IP claims and will do the same to you.

Search for complaints. Type the brand name plus "IP complaint" or "IP claim" into Google or seller forums like Reddit's r/FulfillmentByAmazon. If other sellers have been burned, they've probably talked about it.

Use IP alert tools. Services like IP Alert maintain databases of brands known for filing complaints. These tools can flag risky brands before you commit to inventory. It's a small investment that pays for itself the first time it saves you from a bad sourcing decision.

Check Amazon Brand Registry. Brands enrolled in Brand Registry have extra tools to monitor and report listings. This doesn't mean you can't sell their products, but it does mean they're actively watching—and more likely to take action if something looks off.

What to Do When You Get an IP Claim

You've got a complaint. Your listing is down, your account health took a hit, and you're not sure what happens next.

Amazon will typically send you a notification through your Seller Central account or email when you receive an IP complaint.

Here's the good news: most IP claims are recoverable if you respond quickly and professionally. The sellers who get into real trouble are the ones who ignore complaints, respond emotionally, or don't have documentation ready.

Follow these steps to give yourself the best chance at a fast resolution.

Step 1: Don't Panic—But Act Fast

A single IP complaint won't tank your account overnight. Amazon expects some complaints to happen, especially if you sell across many brands and categories.

That said, time matters. The longer a complaint sits unresolved, the worse it looks. Aim to start your response within 24-48 hours. Quick action signals to both Amazon and the brand that you take this seriously.

Side note: IP complaints can negatively affect your seller metrics on Amazon, making it harder to win the Featured Offer (Buy Box) for your products and hurting your overall visibility.

Step 2: Verify the Claim Is Legitimate

Not every scary message is an actual IP complaint.

Sometimes you'll get messages through Amazon's buyer-seller messaging that claim you're violating a brand's intellectual property. These might be from the brand, a competitor trying to scare you off, or someone running a scam.

A legitimate IP claim comes through two channels:

• An email directly from Amazon (not from a buyer or random sender)
• A notice in Seller Central under Performance > Account Health > Product Policy Compliance

If you only received a buyer message but nothing shows up in Seller Central, it's not an official complaint. You're not required to respond or take action. That said, it might be a warning that an official claim is coming—so keep an eye on your account health.

Step 3: Review the Complaint Details

Once you've confirmed the claim is real, dig into the details. In Seller Central, you'll find:

• The ASIN affected
• The type of complaint (trademark, copyright, or patent)
• The name and contact information of the rights holder who filed it
• The specific concern (if provided)

Read this carefully. Sometimes the complaint is vague, but often it tells you exactly what the brand is upset about—using their images, including their trademark in your listing, or selling without authorization.

Understanding the "why" helps you craft the right response.

Step 4: Gather Your Documentation

Now it's time to pull together everything that proves your product is legitimate.

Collect:

• Invoices showing where you purchased the product
• Supplier contact information
• Any letters of authorization from your supplier or the brand
• Communications with your supplier confirming authenticity
• Photos of your actual inventory (including packaging and labeling)

Make sure your invoices clearly connect to the product in question. If your invoice says "Assorted Health & Beauty - 200 units" but doesn't list the specific product, it won't help you. You need itemized documentation.

Step 5: Contact the Rights Holder

Before escalating to Amazon, reach out to the person or company who filed the complaint. Their contact information is included in the claim details.

Keep your message short, polite, and professional. Here's a basic template:

Subject: Request for Retraction – [ASIN or Product Name]

Hello,

I recently received an intellectual property complaint regarding [product name/ASIN]. I want to assure you that my products were purchased from an authorized source and are 100% authentic.
I've attached my invoice and supplier documentation for your review. 

If this resolves your concerns, I respectfully request that you submit a retraction to Amazon.

Please let me know if you need any additional information. I'm happy to work with you to resolve this quickly.

Thank you for your time.

Some brands will review your documentation and retract the complaint. Others won't respond at all. And some will flat-out refuse because they don't want third-party sellers on their listings, period.

It's worth trying, but don't expect miracles. If they retract, your problem is solved. If they don't, move to the next step.

Step 6: Respond to Amazon

Whether or not the rights holder responds, you should submit an appeal through Seller Central.

Go to Account Health > Product Policy Compliance, find the complaint, and click Appeal. Amazon will ask you to explain the situation and provide documentation.

Your response should include:

• A clear statement that your products are authentic and legally sourced
• Your supplier's name and contact information
• Copies of your invoices (make sure they're legible and highlight the relevant product)
• Any authorization letters or supplier communications
• A brief explanation of the steps you've taken (contacting the rights holder, reviewing your listings, etc.)

Keep it professional. Don't blame the brand or complain about unfair treatment. Stick to the facts and let your documentation do the talking.

Step 7: Decide—Fight or Move On?

Here's the reality: sometimes you'll do everything right and still lose.

Some brands refuse to retract no matter how clean your documentation is. They simply don't want resellers. Amazon may side with them, especially if the brand is enrolled in Brand Registry.

At some point, you have to make a business decision. Is this product worth fighting for, or is it smarter to remove the listing, liquidate your inventory, and move on?

Consider:

• How much inventory do you have tied up in this product?
• Is the brand known for being aggressive with all resellers?
• How much time and energy is this fight costing you?
• Could another complaint from this brand put your account at serious risk?

There's no shame in walking away. Sometimes cutting your losses and blacklisting a brand is the smartest move for your business.

Protect Your Account Before There's a Problem

IP claims are part of selling on Amazon. You can't eliminate the risk entirely, but you can make yourself a much harder target—and recover faster when issues do come up.

The sellers who rarely deal with IP headaches share a few habits:

• Always vet suppliers thoroughly before adding their inventory to your catalog.
• Maintaining written evidence of your product's authenticity addresses most counterfeit-related issues.
• Regularly review your listings to make sure they follow Amazon's rules and reduce the chance of receiving IP claims.
• They write their own listings instead of copying from brands or competitors
• They research brands before jumping on a listing, watching for warning signs
• They act fast and stay professional when a complaint does arrive

None of this is complicated. It's just about building systems that protect you by default.

The reality is that one IP complaint won't end your business. But a pattern of complaints—or one that you ignore—can spiral into an account suspension that takes weeks or months to resolve.

Invest the time upfront. Document everything. Respond quickly when something goes wrong. That's how you keep selling while other accounts are sitting on the sidelines fighting to get reinstated.