Lazada tightens crackdown on fake products, reaffirms IP commitment

A high-ranking official of Lazada Philippines, one of Southeast Asia’s largest e-commerce operators, said the company strictly enforces sanctions against erring merchants to ensure counterfeit products are kept off the platform.

In an interview, Lazada Philippines Head of Seller Operations Alvin Michael Ching said the platform’s Authenticity Guarantee, launched in 2018, remains in effect. Under this scheme, customers who prove that a purchased product is counterfeit receive a refund of twice the purchase amount.

“That guarantee is still in place right now. When it comes to LazMall, which is our strength right now in terms of branded items, authenticity is very important. The screening of the sellers who go to LazMall is very stringent,” Ching said.

He added that Lazada uses an intellectual property (IP) portal that is shared across the Alibaba Group. Brands that wish to protect their IP are required to register through the portal.

“That would be our basis for enforcing any infringement that might come in. Most of the cases filed are invalid cases. Every single complaint that comes in goes through investigation because we are very serious about that, as the authenticity of items in LazMall is important. We can impose huge penalties, or we can even take down a store if it is proven that they are selling fake products in LazMall,” he explained.

So far, Ching said they have not had to refund any customers twice, which he attributed to the authenticity of the items sold on the platform.

In support of intellectual property rights in the digital space, Lazada partnered last year with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL). The company was also a signatory to a 2021 memorandum of understanding with IPOPHL to address online counterfeiting and piracy. The agreement streamlines the process for requesting takedowns of IP-infringing listings.

Now in its 13th year, Lazada continues to drive e-commerce growth and customer satisfaction, making online shopping more accessible to millions of Filipinos.

"We are extremely grateful for the continued trust and support of our community. Lazada’s journey has been fueled by a commitment to helping entrepreneurs, brands, and partners thrive in the online marketplace,” said Lazada Philippines CEO Carlos Barrera.

“As we celebrate this year’s Birthday Blowout Sale to thank shoppers nationwide for making Lazada their go-to online shopping destination, we’re even more determined to continue providing everyone with exceptional experiences," he added.

Since its 2012 launch, Lazada has consistently supported sellers, affiliates, and brands across the country. In the Philippines, the platform has rolled out campaigns focused on empowering MSMEs, improving customer experience, boosting logistics, and contributing to the e-commerce industry’s overall growth.

“As Lazada continues to evolve and expand operations across VisMin, the company remains focused on improving the online shopping experience and providing innovative solutions to meet the growing demands of Filipino consumers,” Barrera said.