Cleared of counterfeit: the evidence playbook.

Counterfeit suspensions are issued when Google’s review engine - sometimes triggered by a brand’s IP complaint, sometimes by an automated check - believes a product on your storefront is unauthorized merchandise infringing on a trademark or copyright.

Unlike misrepresentation (where the fix is editorial cleanup), counterfeit suspensions are won or lost on documentation. Google’s reviewer can’t verify your inventory’s legitimacy without paper.

What documents you need (in order of weight)

1. Brand authorization letter from the trademark owner explicitly granting your business the right to resell. If you’re a reseller, this is the highest-weight evidence - get it on letterhead, signed, and dated within the last 12 months.
2. Supplier invoices for the SKUs Google flagged. The invoices must reference the brand, the SKU, the unit price, the quantity, and the supplier’s contact information.
3. Customs / import documentation if applicable.
4. Trademark license agreement if you’re producing the product under license rather than reselling.
5. Photos of inventory in your warehouse with timestamps - useful as supporting evidence, weak on its own.

What doesn’t work

• A narrative explaining your good intentions
• Screenshots of your supplier’s website
• Affidavits from third parties without verifiable contact information
• Generic “we buy authorized inventory” statements without invoices

The DSA channel matters here

Counterfeit is one of the suspension types where the EU DSA out-of-court appeal is most valuable. DSA reviewers are required to consider evidence Google’s internal AI-adjudicator may have weighted incorrectly - particularly when brand authorization is provided.

Filing eligibility:

• EU-established merchant
• Two prior direct-appeal attempts (Request Review failed)
• Documentation package complete

Adroit Legal handles English filings; native-language certified bodies cover FR, DE, ES, IT.

Build the reinstatement report systematically

Our Recovery panel generates an Reinstatement Report template specifically formatted for counterfeit suspensions, including a documentation checklist, a chain-of-custody timeline, and a concise narrative (≤500 words, Opus-grade) for the few free-text fields that exist on counterfeit reapplications.

What you bring: the actual documents. What we bring: the format Google’s reviewers process most efficiently.

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If your counterfeit suspension is wrongful and you have the authorization documentation, start the reinstatement report here - we’ll have a complete filing-ready package within 60 seconds plus your time to scan documents.