Chinese online giant says it has the tech and scale to eliminate fakes from its marketplaces.
In the wake of its suspension by the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC), Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group President Michael Evans reaffirmed that it is leveraging its scale, technology, and data prowess in order to locate and eliminate fakes from its marketplaces, Bloomberg reports.
The IACC suspended Alibaba's membership following outcry over its inclusion in the group's ranks: Gucci America, Michael Kors and Tiffany & Co. all left the IACC after Alibaba joined, citing rampant counterfeiting across its marketplaces.
In a company statement following its suspension, Jennifer Kuperman, Alibaba's head of international corporate communications, said that it “remains firmly committed to the protection of intellectual property rights and combatting counterfeits. We believe the most effective way to solve the counterfeiting problem is through strong industry collaboration. Intermediaries like Alibaba must be an integral part of the solution.” The statement also criticized the IACC’s suspension as “a step in the wrong direction and regrettable.”
According to the statement, “Alibaba has had a zero-tolerance policy towards counterfeit goods” and that it works closely with brands in a collaborative anti-counterfeiting campaign. “Counterfeiters are becoming increasingly high-tech, global, and hidden. We believe brands must look ahead to a world where the internet and online commerce play a significant role in the way consumers live and shop. Now is the time for partnership and action. Together, we must embrace the future.,” the statement read.
In an address to the IACC in Orlando last week, Evans stated, “We believe the future of Alibaba – and the future of many of your companies – will depend on us working closely together to fight counterfeits.”
Other IACC members include Apple Inc., Nike, Calvin Klein, and Procter & Gamble, and Alibaba is attempting to woo these brands to help boost sales of global brands to Chinese shoppers.
Evans shared details of Alibaba’s efforts to smoke out counterfeiters, including its collaboration with Chinese law enforcement in 2015 that results in 300 arrests, the destruction of 46 counterfeit production locations, and the confiscation of $125 million in products.
Evan assured his audience that “We have the scale, we have the data, and we have the commitment to be a global leader in anti-counterfeiting.”
