Taobao added to 'notorious markets'

Bloomberg Businessweek.

The US Trade Representative's report says Baidu links to Web sites that sell goods that might be counterfeits or unauthorised copies. It says Taobao, part of online commerce giant Alibaba Group, offered counterfeit or pirated items.

According to The Seattle Times, China is a leading source of fake and counterfeit goods despite repeated government crackdowns. Beijing introduced its latest enforcement effort in October and says it hopes to achieve lasting results.

The two companies were among 33 Web sites or public markets in China, Russia, India and other countries that the US.

Other Web sites listed include torrentz.com; ThePirateBay, 91.com and Rutracker based in Russia, according to the statement. The US agency says the list was not a legal finding but an effort to call attention to abuses and encourage governments to stop them, The Next Web reveals.

Alibaba spokesperson, John Spelich, says: “We appreciate the USTR's acknowledgment of our ongoing efforts to work with brand owners in protecting their intellectual property rights and we will continue to work closely with brand owners and others to further enhance the level of trust and integrity in our online marketplaces for the benefit of all our stakeholders.”