eBay was recognized by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for its partnership with the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Center, as part of their “E-Commerce Working Group” (ECWG) efforts to combat the sale and distribution of counterfeit and dangerous goods on the internet. eBay, along with other private sector stakeholders, received the inaugural IPR Center Private Sector Award for the work we have done to combat counterfeits through a pilot program which increased collaboration amongst stakeholders to identify bad actors. Specifically, eBay has led efforts to develop the pilot into a full-time program, with more participants, and automated processes, to drive efficiencies and better combat counterfeits. More information related to eBay’s award and the IPR Center can be found here and here. 

eBay is an especially active partner with the IPR Center and has referred numerous cases to them over the past few years as well as to other partners such as the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and IPR Office in the UK. In addition to coordinating with law enforcement, eBay’s investigations teams work closely with rights owners who are the true subject matter experts on their products and can help eBay build a strong case for referral to law enforcement.

eBay takes a comprehensive approach to prohibited items, including counterfeits, but no single policy, partnership, technology, or enforcement mechanism will adequately address bad actors. eBay’s combination of people, policies, and tools together help ensure the safety and trustworthiness of its marketplace.