TikTok Signs MOU with KOIPA to Protect K-Brands

On August 26, TikTok signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korea Intellectual Property Protection Agency (KOIPA, President Shin Sang-gon) at Singapore IP Week — the "Partnership for K-Brand Protection and a Sound E-Commerce Ecosystem."The agreement covers TikTok Shop and Tokopedia, the leading Indonesian e-commerce platform that joined TikTok in 2024 — establishing protection across the full TikTok commerce ecosystem where K-brands operate.K-brands, from K-food to K-beauty, are among the most loved brands across TikTok's commerce ecosystem. As short-form and livestream commerce grow, so does the need to respond to counterfeits distributed in real time. TikTok has protected rights on-platform through its Intellectual Property Protection Center (IPPC) and the brand protection program TikTok Real; this MOU adds KOIPA's expertise to that foundation.The two organisations will cooperate in three areas: a swift review-and-action system for counterfeit reports — including a fast track that gives top priority to KOIPA-delegated reports on TikTok Shop LIVE listings; sharing of repeat-infringer seller information in accordance with each organization's policies and procedures; and support for Korean exporters' use of the IPPC, with qualifying K-brands guided into TikTok Real.This builds on TikTok's April 2025 MOU with the Trade-Related IP Protection Association (TIPA), extending K-brand protection cooperation from a private-sector association to a government agency."K-brands are among the most loved brands across TikTok's commerce ecosystem, and protecting their value is both our responsibility and our priority. Through this partnership with KOIPA, we will respond to counterfeits more swiftly and systematically, and build a trusted e-commerce environment where K-brands can grow globally with confidence," said Sanjeev Kumar, Intellectual Property Rights Lead, SEA, TikTok Shop."Cooperation with platforms is essential to protecting brand value in the global e-commerce environment," said Shin Sang-gon, President of KOIPA. "Through this partnership with TikTok, we will swiftly block counterfeit products emerging from new distribution channels such as livestreaming, and firmly support the global competitiveness of K-brands."Rights holders can report suspected infringement anytime through the IPPC. TikTok will continue expanding cooperation with partners to build a commerce ecosystem where K-brands and all rights holders can grow with confidence.