TIPA and TikTok Sign Memorandum of Understanding on IPR Protection

In honor of World Intellectual Property Day, both organizations pledge to strengthen global IP protection cooperation

The Trade-Related IPR Protection Association (TIPA) (Chairman Nam-Ki Chung) and global company TikTok today announced that they have signed an agreement to cooperate on IPR protection by preventing the distribution of counterfeit goods at the import and export stages at the TIPA Conference Room to mark World Intellectual Property Day on April 26th. The event was attended by TIPA Chairman Nam-Ki Chung and Kostas Fintrilis, Head of IPR External Affairs, TikTok Shop, SEA, TikTok and other related officials.  

[TIPA President Nam-Ki Chung (left) and Kostas Fintrilis, Head of IPR External Affairs, TikTokShop, SEA, TikTok(right) with the agreement]

TikTok, a global short-form video platform, operates TikTok Shop, a global e-commerce online platform that sells products through short-form videos and product review content. It has expanded to Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, the U.S., and Europe, and allows Korean brands and small businesses, and creators to join as merchants to promote and market their products via video content and live streaming.  
 
K-brands are also actively utilizing TikTok Shops as a window into overseas markets. As K-brands have become increasingly popular, many K-food and K-beauty brands have joined TikTok Shop to quickly and familiarly reach out to overseas customers. TikTok Shop is making every effort to build its own safety system and comply with laws and regulations in each country, and is continuously expanding its cooperation with specialized organizations to protect intellectual property rights more extensively. This collaboration with TIPA is also in line with that.  
 
TIPA and TikTok share a common understanding of the importance of protecting intellectual property rights. TIPA agreed to cooperate with TikTok Shop to improve the operation of its IPR protection programs, including its “Test buy” program, and to strengthen mutual cooperation in protecting K-brands. The MOU was signed to commemorate World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, designated by WIPO, for the mutual development of IP protection work.  
 
At the MOU signing ceremony, TIPA Chairman Nam-Ki Chung said, “The MOU with TikTok Shop for strengthening IP rights and consumer protection in global e-commerce.” “We hope to build an effective protection cooperation system through long-term cooperation,” he said.  

 
“TikTok is committed to ensuring that TikTok Shop complies with regulations in each country and provides a safe and secure environment that both sellers and customers can trust,” said Fintrilis. ‘We look forward to working closely with TIPA to ensure that K-brands’ intellectual property rights are well protected.”
  

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