US returns Alibaba website to counterfeits blacklist

AFP, WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday put a division of the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba back on a blacklist of "notorious markets" known for selling counterfeit goods and violating intellectual property rights.
The office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which removed Alibaba from its annual list four years ago, included the company's online platform Taobao in its latest release, saying it is not doing enough to curb sales of fake and pirated goods.
"The Taobao.com e-commerce platform is an important concern due to the large volume of allegedly counterfeit and pirated goods available and the challenges right holders experience in removing and preventing illicit sales and offers of such goods," the agency said.
Although inclusion on the blacklist carries no penalties, it deals a blow to Alibaba's reputation after the company has struggled to improve its image and boost international sales.

US returns Alibaba website to counterfeits blacklist

AFP, WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday put a division of the Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba back on a blacklist of notorious markets known for selling counterfeit goods and violating intellectual property rights. The office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), which removed Alibaba from its annual list four years ago, included the companys online platform Taobao in its latest release, saying it is not doing enough to curb sales of fake and pirated goods. The Taobao.come-commerce platform is an important concern due tothe large volume of allegedly counterfeit and pirated goods available and the challenges right holders experience in removing and preventing illicit sales and offers of such goods, the agency said. Although inclusion on the blacklist carries no penalties, it deals a blow to Alibabas reputation after the company has struggled to improve its image and boost international sales.