Report a listing that copied your work
Report toAmazon’s Report Infringement form
- Result
- A copyright notice against the listings you name.
- Won’t
- Require a seller account or a registered brand. You only sign in with an Amazon account.
- Good to know
- The route for photographers, authors, illustrators and anyone whose work is in a listing without permission.
Report toBrand Registry’s Report a Violation tool
- Result
- One place to report suspected IP infringement, store policy violations and regulatory compliance concerns.
- Won’t
- Accept a copyright alone. Enrolment rests on a trademark.
- Good to know
- Brand Registry also includes Project Zero and Transparency.
Amazon's Conditions of Use point to the form under "Notice and Procedure for Making Claims of Copyright Infringement". Brand Registry needs a pending or registered trademark for your brand name or logo, from the trademark office of a country with an Amazon store, plus a logo with your brand name permanently on your products or packaging. No trademark? Amazon's IP Accelerator connects brands with vetted legal providers to file one.
Before you open the form
These match what US law requires in any DMCA notice: see DMCA notice requirements.
Copyright or trademark complaint?
Amazon accepts both, and filing under the wrong one is a common reason for rejection.
| Copyright | Trademark | |
|---|---|---|
| Protects | Photos, written copy, artwork, books, software, packaging artwork | Names, logos and other marks used in trade |
| Typical case | A seller uses your product photos or copies your description | A seller puts your brand in their title, or sells counterfeits |
| Registration | Not needed to file | Needed for Brand Registry (pending or registered) |
| Statutory counter-notice | Yes, the DMCA counter-notice | No. Disputes go through retraction or appeal |
A counterfeit can use your logo and copy your photos. File each right separately so each is judged on its own terms. More in copyright vs trademark.
If your listing gets a complaint
The listing or content usually comes down and the complaint is recorded in Account Health. Amazon staff on the Seller Forums say each IP violation affects your Account Health Rating, so act fast. Repeats put the account at risk: US platforms relying on the DMCA safe harbour must have a policy for terminating repeat infringers in appropriate circumstances.
Note who filed it, which ASINs it names and which part of the listing it objects to. Then:
| Situation | Route |
|---|---|
| The complainant is mistaken, or you're authorised to use the content | Ask for a retraction. Amazon staff say the rights owner can submit one through the Notice Retraction Form or Brand Registry, and the listing may then be reinstated. |
| You have documents proving you may use it | Appeal in Account Health with a licence or letter of authorisation. A vague denial won't work. |
| It's wrong, they won't retract, and you're certain | File a DMCA counter-notice per Amazon's counter-notice instructions (Seller Central login). Copyright complaints only. |
| It's right: you had no rights to the photo or text | Acknowledge it and fix the cause. Replace the content and show how you'll stop it recurring. |
About the counter-notice
- It's sworn, not an appeal form. Under 17 U.S.C. § 512(g) you state under penalty of perjury that the removal was a mistake or misidentification.
- It has legal strings. You consent to a US federal court's jurisdiction and accept service of process from the complainant, who gets a copy.
- It can restore the content unless the complainant tells the platform they've sued within 10 to 14 business days.
- File only if you're completely sure, Amazon staff warn: a wrong one can make your position worse.
The counter-notice guide has the risks and a guided builder.
When the complaint is a competitive tactic
Some sellers file against rivals: knocking out a listing in peak season can be worth the risk to them. Watch for complaints against your best sellers by a party with no plausible claim, or over photos you took.
Under § 512(f), anyone who knowingly and materially misrepresents infringement can be liable for the damages, including costs and attorneys' fees. Knowing misrepresentation is hard to prove, so keep original image files with metadata, licences, supplier correspondence, and a dated log of every complaint and filer. False and abusive DMCA takedowns explains how.
Preventing repeat complaints
What draws complaints
- Product photos from a manufacturer's site, a competitor or an image search.
- Description text copied from another listing or a brand's website.
- Artwork, characters or quotes printed on products without a licence.
- Assuming a supplier's images come with permission.
What protects you
- Your own photography and copy, with the originals kept.
- Written licences for anything you didn't create.
- Written permission from the brand or supplier before using their content.
- A record of where every asset came from, easy to find in an appeal.
FAQs
How do I report copyright infringement on Amazon?
Sign in and use Amazon's Report Infringement form, listing each infringing ASIN and describing your original work. Brands in Brand Registry can use Report a Violation instead.
Do I need Brand Registry to file an Amazon copyright complaint?
No. Brand Registry requires a pending or registered trademark and is aimed at brand owners. Anyone who owns a copyright, or acts for the owner, can use the Report Infringement form.
What happens when you get an Amazon copyright complaint?
The listing or content is usually taken down and the complaint appears in Account Health, where it counts against your Account Health Rating. Repeated complaints can put the selling account at risk.
How do I get an Amazon copyright complaint removed?
Quickest is a retraction from the person who filed it. Otherwise appeal in Account Health with evidence of your rights, or, if you're certain it's wrong, file a DMCA counter-notice, which is a sworn legal statement.
Can a competitor file a false copyright complaint on Amazon?
It happens. Under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f), someone who knowingly misrepresents infringement can be liable for damages, but you need evidence. See false DMCA takedowns.
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