Political Science Law | Open Access | DOI: https://doi.org/10.37547/tajpslc/Volume07Issue12-03

Information Intermediary and Marketplace Liability for Counterfeit Goods in E-Commerce

Ivan Ivannikov , LL.B., LL.M., Founder & Legal Strategist at MP Litigation Center, Expert in Marketplace Dispute Resolution Irvine, California United States

Abstract

The article examines the evolution and the growing inadequacy of the historical immunity of information intermediaries (marketplaces) in the face of widespread counterfeiting in electronic commerce. The legal definition of an “information intermediary” consistently lags behind commercial reality—a phenomenon aptly described as the regulatory lag hypothesis. This lag implies that existing legal frameworks fail to adequately address modern business models grounded in complex logistical partnerships. The relevance of the study is determined by the transformation of platforms from passive hosts into integrated logistical ecosystems (e.g., FBA), necessitating an urgent revision of outdated liability standards. The article aims to analyze case law from the United States, the European Union, and the Russian Federation, as well as the underlying economic conflict between the prohibition of general monitoring and the emerging obligation of proactive due diligence mandated by new legislation. Judicial practice demonstrates a transnational shift in focus from actual knowledge to operational control and “constructive knowledge.” The author’s key contribution lies in proposing a risk-tiered liability model that dynamically correlates joint liability with the degree of the platform’s involvement in logistics functions. The findings are intended for practicing lawyers, digital services regulators, and compliance professionals.

Keywords

counterfeit, e-commerce, information intermediary, intermediary liability, marketplace, trademark

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How to Cite

Ivan Ivannikov. (2025). Information Intermediary and Marketplace Liability for Counterfeit Goods in E-Commerce. The American Journal of Political Science Law and Criminology, 7(12), 16–21. https://doi.org/10.37547/tajpslc/Volume07Issue12-03