Alibaba.com, the business-to-business e-commerce company, is offering two new services to buyers and sellers — the Quality Supplier Program and the Gold Supplier Starter Pack — and is taking steps to protect its users intellectual property rights.
Under the Quality Supplier Program when suppliers apply for a paid membership service on Alibaba.com, they must pass an authentication and verification process conducted by an independent third-party agency. Alibaba.com will team up with VeriSign as an additional authentication and verification partner. VeriSign, a trusted provider of Internet infrastructure services for the networked world, will provide authentication and verification services to verify the identity of suppliers displayed on the Alibaba.com web site. The presence of a VeriSign seal on the supplier's listings will indicate to Alibaba.com site visitors that this information has been verified by VeriSign.
Alibaba.com is also enforcing stricter policies towards the protection of intellectual property and ensuring a safer online trading environment by banning members that have a history of violating the rules and policies of its marketplace. For example, Alibaba.com's current policy is to respond expeditiously to written requests by intellectual property owners to take down items that the owners believe have infringed IPR. Under the Quality Supplier Program, Alibaba.com has established clear internal standards and procedures for de-listing products and terminating the accounts of non-complying members based on substantiated complaints.
Alibaba.com's new entry-level product — the Gold Supplier Starter Pack — is designed for exporters that plan to shift their business online to achieve efficiencies in the current economic environment. The product offers basic storefront display and unlimited product listings. Companies must obtain third-party authentication and verification under the Quality Supplier Program before they can purchase the Gold Supplier Starter Pack.
Alibaba.com's existing Gold Supplier membership, will be upgraded to incorporate value-added services such as additional virtual showrooms that will enable suppliers to substantially increase the visibility of their key products. In addition, the improved service offering will include corporate email accounts, a virtual factory tour as well as storefront management tools such as Traffic Analyzer and Buyer GPSTM to help suppliers maximize the effectiveness of their online marketing programs.