How ThornCrest Defends Your Brand: Battling IP Infringement on TikTok in 2025

At ThornCrest, we believe brands deserve to win—not just in the spotlight, but in the trenches. TikTok has become a battleground for intellectual property (IP) abuse: unauthorized sales, fake listings, counterfeit ads, and content misuse. Below is how we see the landscape—and how ThornCrest protects you.

The TikTok battlefield: why we care

TikTok is no niche platform anymore. It commands scale. To give you perspective:

• TikTok now reports ~169.7 million monthly users across the EU (Jan–Jun 2025) — a massive potential audience (and liability) for brands.
• In H1 2025 alone, 92,701 ad creatives were removed across Europe due to IP infringements, and 829,861 TikTok Shop listings or content pieces were purged for violations.
• In the 12 months spanning July 2023 to June 2024, TikTok deactivated 4,800+ seller accounts, blocked 5 million+ suspect product listings, and removed ~800,000 infringing videos/livestreams over its Shop platform.

These figures show that TikTok’s own enforcement is serious. But relying on platform enforcement alone falls short — and that’s where ThornCrest’s proactive strategy adds value.

ThornCrest’s IP defense playbook for TikTok

Here’s how we structure a defense that matches TikTok’s scale — and stays one step ahead of infringers.

1. Onboard quickly into TikTok’s IP systems

We ensure you're registered and verified within TikTok’s IP Protection Center (IPPC) — the hub for submitting detailed complaints, tracking status, and escalating where needed. Delay here means lost time and lost control.

2. Monitor and Collection of TikTok Shop Listings

Our detection doesn’t stop at what TikTok flags. ThornCrest deploys image-matching and text-recognition tools to identify infringements before they spread. Every suspected listing — from counterfeit product ads to deceptive “dupe” campaigns — is captured, logged, and categorized. This allows us to quantify trends, track repeat offenders, and feed intelligence back into your brand’s larger enforcement strategy.
We also benchmark your exposure by category, seller, and geography, giving you a live view of your brand’s risk footprint. What gets measured gets removed — and our data-backed monitoring ensures no imitation slips through unseen.

3. Airtight Takedowns 

When ThornCrest files a complaint, it’s not just a report — it’s a case file. We tailor evidence packages to minimize appeal windows and maximize first-pass acceptance. Our approach goes beyond form submission: we monitor each claim through resolution, track response times, and escalate through TikTok’s dedicated IP liaison channels when necessary. This ensures that removals aren’t just fast — they’re final. Every takedown strengthens your brand’s authority within TikTok’s enforcement ecosystem, setting precedent for quicker action on future violations.

4. Link TikTok Work to Your Larger Enforcement

TikTok is just one theater in the brand protection campaign. ThornCrest connects every takedown, seller ID, and content match to your wider marketplace enforcement — across Amazon, Meta platforms, AliExpress, and others. This linkage ensures that when we identify a counterfeit seller or an infringing creative on TikTok, it triggers checks across your entire digital ecosystem. One strike initiates a network sweep. By centralizing insights, we create a consistent brand shield across channels — tightening the loop between detection, escalation, and eradication.

5. KPIs

We don’t just act — we measure. ThornCrest’s reporting dashboard tracks every takedown, listing removal, and enforcement cycle by platform, product line, and region. Typical KPIs include takedown speed, recurrence rate reduction, seller reappearance rate, and share of voice restoration on TikTok. Our clients see performance transparently: how many listings were neutralized, how long removals took, and how brand trust metrics improved over time. The goal isn’t just compliance — it’s brand recovery and sustained dominance.

Why ThornCrest’s approach works

TikTok’s own metrics show massive IP enforcement volume — but gaps persist. Our brand-level screening fills those gaps. By pairing your brand’s authority with ThornCrest’s swift and being data-driven, we aim to turn TikTok from a risk vector into a protected channel.

Next Step

TikTok’s scale means IP infringement isn’t an “if”; it’s a “how many.” Brands that rely solely on platform enforcement are giving up leverage. With ThornCrest’s hands-on, metrics-driven strategy, your TikTok presence becomes not a liability, but a fortified asset.

Next step: Contact ThornCrest to secure your IP across TikTok and other fast-moving platforms.