Overview

Amazon enforces strict intellectual property policies to protect patent holders and maintain a trustworthy marketplace. For sellers, understanding how patents work — and how they differ from other forms of IP — is essential to avoiding listing removals, account health issues, and potential legal action. This guide breaks down Amazon's patent policy, the types of patents that apply, and what to do if you face a patent-related complaint.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Patents protect inventions, not brands or creative works — A patent gives its owner the exclusive right to prevent others from making, selling, or importing a specific invention for a fixed period of time.
• Two main patent types exist — Utility patents cover how a product works (its structure and function), while design patents cover how a product looks (its ornamental appearance).
• Patent violations can directly impact your account health — If a patent holder files a complaint against your listing, it will appear as a policy violation on your Account Health Dashboard.
• You are responsible for verifying patent compliance — Amazon expects sellers to do their due diligence before listing products, including consulting manufacturers, distributors, or legal counsel if there is any uncertainty.
• Appeals require specific documentation — If you receive a patent-related violation, you will need to submit invoices, letters of authorization, or other proof through the Account Health page.

How Patents Differ from Other Intellectual Property

Sellers often confuse patents with trademarks and copyrights, but each protects something different. A trademark safeguards words, logos, and symbols that identify a brand — think of a product's brand name or logo on the packaging. A copyright protects original creative works such as written content, photographs, and artistic designs. A patent, by contrast, protects a specific invention or a unique product design. For example, a new type of packaging mechanism could be covered by a utility patent, while the distinctive shape of a product enclosure might fall under a design patent. Sellers need to understand these distinctions because the type of IP involved determines the nature of the complaint, the evidence required, and the appeal process.