Some sellers on Amazon go with just a provisional patent.  But a provisional patent doesn’t allow you to take part in Amazon’s IP protection program and actually stop someone from selling a copycat product. If you have a design or utility patent, Amazon’ has a program that will help you stop copycats.  If you have a provisional patent, nothing you can do will stop a copycat.

If you need a patent fast, the USPTO does have a program to expedite patents, which for one of my clients allowed him to get a patent in less than six months from when he applied. The cost of the program is $1,000 for a micro-entity, meaning for less than $3,000 a micro entity (less than four patent application, not counting provisional patents, and under $220,000 in income)  can have a patent that has a real strong chance of stopping  copycats selling on Amazon.  And you can have that protection in six to twelve months.

If you sell on Amazon you need to be aware of Amazon’s IP protection program. This is from Amazon’s IP policies.

Amazon has a strict policy against patent infringement, allowing patent holders to report 

violations and seek enforcement through various processes, including the Amazon Patent 

Evaluation Express (APEX) program.

Reporting Patent Infringement

If you believe that a copycat is selling on Amazon and your patent rights have been infringed on Amazon, you can report the infringement by following these steps:

Gather Evidence: Collect necessary evidence to support your claim, including URLs of  the infringing listings and documentation proving that your patent is valid and active. 

Submit a Report: Use the Amazon Report Infringement form to submit your claim. You will need to provide detailed information about your patent and the nature of the infringement 

Await Response: After submitting your report, Amazon will review the claim and may   reach out for additional information. Be prepared to respond promptly to any requests. 

Amazon Patent Evaluation Express (APEX)

Amazon offers the APEX program, which allows patent holders to request a third-party evaluation of whether a product sold on Amazon likely infringes their patent. If                   infringement is found, Amazon will remove the product from its site. However, recent legal

  rulings have raised concerns about the risks associated with using this program, as patent holders may have to litigate in various jurisdictions if disputes arise. 

Amazon’s patent infringement policy emphasizes the importance of protecting intellectual

 property rights. Patent holders must take proactive steps to monitor and enforce their rights on

 the  platform. If you suspect infringement, gather evidence, report it through the appropriate channel and consider utilizing the APEX program for a more streamlined resolution process.