Temu & IACC launch direct anti-counterfeit channel

Temu and the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition have expanded their collaboration with a dedicated intellectual property protection programme. The initiative gives IACC member brands a direct route to escalate complex cases on Temu.

The IACC-Temu Program is a voluntary scheme that adds a separate support channel for member brands alongside Temu's existing reporting tools, which remain open to all rights holders. Under the arrangement, participating brands can raise pending or rejected notices, as well as cases requiring further review, through the IACC Global Portal.

Each escalation submitted through the programme will receive a response within 48 hours, Temu said. Brands in the scheme can also submit keywords and images to help the marketplace identify potentially infringing listings before complaints are filed.

The move builds on a relationship that also includes Temu's membership of the IACC as a General Member earlier this year. It gives brands access to direct support from Temu's intellectual property specialists, quarterly check-ins, detailed feedback and periodic status reports.

Bob Barchiesi, President of the IACC, said the programme followed earlier discussions between the organisation and the online marketplace.

"Temu underscored its commitment to brand protection and collaboration with the IACC when its Co-Founder, Dada Sun, met with me and my team. That discussion marked an important step in strengthening our relationship and ultimately led to the launch of the IACC-Temu Program," Barchiesi said.

"Early results from our joint program have been positive for our member brands, demonstrating the immense value of collaboration between all stakeholders in addressing IP challenges," he added.

How it works

The programme is designed for more difficult disputes rather than as a replacement for standard reporting systems. Rights holders that are not part of the IACC scheme can still use Temu's existing channels to report alleged infringements.

For brands that do join, the additional route is intended for notices that remain unresolved or need another review. The option to provide keywords and images also ties brand owners more closely to Temu's monitoring process, which scans listings for possible infringements before products are flagged through external complaints.

Temu's intellectual property controls cover seller vetting, pre-listing screening and round-the-clock post-listing monitoring, according to the company. Its 2026 Intellectual Property Protection Report says 331 potentially infringing listings were removed proactively for every complaint-based takedown.

The report also says Temu's proactive monitoring database now covers more than 15,000 brands, about three times the previous year's level. It uses more than 47 million images and 9.5 million keywords, with submissions from participating brands under the IACC-Temu Program feeding into the system.

Broader pressure

Online marketplaces have faced sustained scrutiny from brands, trade groups and regulators over counterfeit goods and other intellectual property disputes. In response, platforms have expanded notice-and-takedown systems, introduced automated screening tools and built direct relationships with rights holders to improve enforcement.

The tie-up between Temu and the IACC reflects a wider shift towards more structured cooperation between marketplaces and brand owners. For trade groups such as the IACC, direct escalation channels can give members a faster route through platform enforcement processes when standard submissions do not resolve a case.

For marketplaces, such arrangements can also provide more data on repeat patterns, suspect keywords and imagery linked to disputed goods. That can help identify listings earlier, although the effectiveness of such systems often depends on the quality of brand-supplied information and the speed of platform review.

A Temu spokesperson said the company sees enforcement and cooperation as linked parts of its intellectual property approach.

"Effective IP protection requires both strong enforcement measures and close collaboration with rights holders," the spokesperson said.

"The IACC-Temu Program brings these efforts together to better address complex cases and support proactive enforcement."