As globalization continues to deepen, cross-border e-commerce has become an important channel for brands to expand into international markets. Among numerous cross-border platforms, TikTok, with its unique short video format and global reach, has become an indispensable marketing hub.While benefiting from the substantial traffic and market opportunities that TikTok brings, cross-border brands also face a range of challenges, particularly in the area of intellectual property protection,How brands can protect their creative ideas from infringement and their image from imitation has become an urgent issue that needs to be addressed.Therefore, brand registration is particularly important on cross-border platforms such as TikTok.Today,Damai has prepared the following for our seller friends:beginner-friendlyA tutorial on brand authorization and registration for TikTok Shop in the United States—come take a look with us!1. Log in to the TK backend, click on the avatar in the upper right corner -- “My Account” -- “Account Settings”.
2. Go to the Account Settings page and select “Brands” → “Add Brand Authorization”.3. If filing information has already been submitted, it will also be displayed on the following page.4. There are three methods for recording brand authorizations. Sellers should select the appropriate method and complete the required information according to their specific circumstances.Trademark Owner
The trademark registrant and the TikTok Shop registrant are the same individual or company.
Required documents: Trademark certificate
Fill in the trademark information: trademark holder’s name, trademark name, registration number, application date, expiration date, and upload an electronic copy of the trademark certificate for review.
1st Level Authorized Seller (Tier 1 Authorized Agent)
The TikTok Shop registrant has an authorization letter from the trademark owner.
Required documents: primary authorization letter (i.e., direct authorization from the brand appointing you as its agent)
In addition to filling in trademark information, you need to upload an electronic version of the authorization letter and submit it for review.
Second-Tier Authorized Dealer
The TikTok Shop registrant holds an authorization letter from a Tier 1 authorized seller.
Required documents: First-tier authorization letter and second-tier authorization letter (this applies when you do not have first-tier agent status and instead source and ship goods through a first-tier agent; two authorization letters are therefore required: one from the trademark owner granting authority to the first-tier agent, and the other from the first-tier agent granting authority to you).
In addition to filling in trademark information, you need to upload an electronic version of the authorization letter from the first-level agent, as well as an electronic version of the authorization letter from the second-level agent, and submit it for review.
5. Fill in the information above and upload the corresponding materials, then click “OK” to submit and wait for review.When completing the relevant filing information, please note the following points:① When entering the brand name you are certifying, make sure it exactly matches the name listed on the official U.S. trademark website, including capitalization. The application will not be approved if the information does not match the official record;② The class selected for the trademark should also match the class listed on the USPTO website;③ Brand name and Category: You can visit the official U.S. trademark search website and enter the brand name you wish to search (URL: https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/search/serach-information)Take Nike as an example, the trademark name to be filled is "Nike", and the category where the trademark is located is "014" in "Class"
④ When entering the expiration date, be sure to refer to the date displayed on the official website.
⑤ When uploading supporting documents, the authorization letter may use the official template. Please note the following two points:
If the trademark owner is a company, you are advised to use the company’s official letter template;The authorization start date shall not precede the date on which you sign, and the authorization expiration date shall not be later than the validity period of the trademark.The following is a reference template for first-tier authorization:
⑥ A copy of the trademark information from the official U.S. trademark website must be uploaded, including the following information: Status, Mark Information, Related Properties Information, Goods and Services, Basis Information, and Current Owner.
Finally, upload the authorization letter together with the trademark information. You will generally receive an approval notification within about seven days. Please note, however, that trademark certification has been outsourced to SGS and may involve manual review. SGS may send an email requesting the trademark owner’s phone number and a photo of the owner holding their ID card:If a seller friend receives this email, remember to reply, otherwise it will not be approved!
What Damai Wants to Say
Conducting brand registration on TikTok,It not only enhances the brand’s international image, but also effectively prevents and addresses intellectual property infringement, safeguarding the brand’s core value.
In the cross-border e-commerce landscape, brand registration is an essential component of a brand’s internationalization strategy and a key to ensuring its long-term competitiveness. For every brand aspiring to succeed in international markets,TikTok brand registration is a required step.This is the entry requirements and brand filing process for TikTok Shop US region. If any intellectual property issues are encountered during operation, you can consult Damai at any time,If you need an authorization template, you can also send a private message to the editor！In wind and rain, Damai Intellectual Property has always been with you on your journey of cross-border brand and product expansion!
