How a Bamboo Steamer, a Copyright Violation, and a Legal Certificate Turned into a Win Against Amazon Intellectual Property Infringement
- Nicolas Delafraye
- Apr 8
- 3 min read

In today’s digital marketplace, success can come fast—but so can threats to your brand. This real story highlights how original content got stolen, how we fought back, and how intellectual property rights on Amazon and Alibaba were upheld thanks to verifiable legal proof.
Whether you're an Amazon seller or a creative professional, this is exactly the kind of story you’ll want to read if you're wondering how to report stolen listing images or protect your work from Amazon intellectual property infringement.
The Rise of a Best-Selling Bamboo Steamer
A few months ago, I produced product photography and a promotional video for a client selling a bamboo steamer on Amazon. The creative assets we built were high-quality, engaging, and tailored for conversion. As expected, the product soared to the top of its category. That success brought visibility—and unfortunately, the wrong kind.
The Content Gets Stolen
My client contacted me in distress: three Chinese suppliers had stolen our original photos and videos and were using them to market identical-looking steamers on Alibaba. It wasn’t just frustrating—it was theft. This wasn’t just a matter of principle. It was a textbook case of Amazon intellectual property infringement, and it had real consequences for the brand’s sales and credibility.
Protecting Intellectual Property Rights on Amazon and Alibaba
As the creator, I had more than just the original files—I had legal proof of ownership. I quickly initiated a takedown process through Alibaba's platform, backed with:
Raw files and timestamps
A certificate of ownership issued by Datasure Time Stamping Authority
The report was acknowledged, and thanks to the strength of the evidence, Alibaba removed all three infringing supplier listings and applied penalties according to their enforcement policies.
The Legal Strength Behind Our Certificates
The backbone of this takedown was the legally binding certificate of ownership, issued by Datasure, a Time Stamping Authority:
✅ Recommended by the French State
✅ Compliant with the European “eIDAS” Regulation
✅ Recognized by law in every EU country and many third countries
✅ Provides proof of authorship and date—indisputable and court-admissible
✅ Accepted in over 180 countries via the Berne Convention
This is what makes a difference when you're facing Amazon intellectual property infringement or trying to prove your rights across global platforms.
How to Report Stolen Listing Images (and Actually Win)
If you're an Amazon seller asking how to report stolen listing images, here’s what worked for us:
Gather all original files (high-res photos, video project files, metadata)
Ensure you have a certified timestamp that proves you created the content first
Submit a detailed IP infringement report to the platform (Amazon or Alibaba)
Include your certificate of ownership, which acts as legally recognized proof
Follow up professionally and track communication
This step-by-step approach gives you a clear advantage—because it's not about who used it first, it’s about who can prove they created it first.
What About AI-Generated Content?
Let’s address the elephant in the room. AI-generated images and videos are everywhere. But here's the catch: many of them look similar, lack metadata, and can’t always be traced to a single creator. So in a world where content is generated by prompts rather than hands, how do you protect your rights? Most AI tools don’t provide copyright ownership or legal timestamps—meaning if someone uses or copies your AI-generated visual, you might have no legal ground to stand on.
That’s why original content + verifiable ownership = your strongest asset.
Final Thoughts
This story had a happy ending. We won. My client’s images were restored to their rightful place, the infringers were penalized, and their brand integrity was protected. But it worked because we had proof—and that’s what I offer.
If you're investing in visuals for your Amazon listings, your Shopify store, or your brand as a whole, make sure you’re not just creating content—you're protecting it. Whether you're dealing with intellectual property rights on Amazon, or wondering how to report stolen listing images, you don’t have to face it alone.
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