Alibaba Group’s recently released 2020 annual report on IPR protection showed the company is making substantial gains in its work to protect brands. The company introduced new technology and worked with rights-holders and consumers to identify IP issues and address them swiftly.

Last year, the company launched “ZaoMang,” an innovative artificial intelligence tool to help identify trademark infringements. The tool helps small and medium-sized businesses navigate the complex trademark registration process.

Alibaba also makes IP protection more accessible for small and medium-sized enterprises via its SME Support Center. The Center helps reduce IPR enforcement's complexity and works with SMEs to address issues specific to smaller companies. Alibaba established an SME Advisory Committee in 2020 to provide a forum where smaller companies can discuss issues they face in IPR protection and enforcement.

These efforts have resulted in 96% of suspected IPR infringing listings being proactively detected and removed before a sale could be made. Meanwhile, the number of IPR infringements reported by consumers dropped 33% year-over-year and 98% of intellectual property complaints were handled within 24 hours.

Alibaba’s head of global IP enforcement Matthew Bassiur was recently recognized in World Trademark Review’s ranking of the top 25 trademark industry influencers. The WTR said that Bassiur played an instrumental role in driving the growth of Alibaba’s collaborative efforts with external stakeholders on IP rights enforcement, including his work through the Alibaba Anti-counterfeiting Alliance. The alliance brings rights holders and other IP stakeholders together to share industry and technical expertise in the fight against IP infringers.