E-Commerce IP Lawyer: Amazon Complaints, APEX, TRO

ZYL Law Firm, a U.S. intellectual property firm in New Haven, Connecticut, represents cross-border e-commerce sellers and brand owners in marketplace IP disputes on Amazon, Walmart, Temu, TikTok Shop, eBay, Etsy, Shopify, and Google Merchant Center. Every matter starts with a $250 written triage of the complaint, delivered within two business days; DMCA counter-notices are $450, Amazon APEX work runs $500 to $3,000 (the $5,000 per-party APEX deposit is separate), and Schedule A / TRO emergency reviews are $800.

Reviewed by Yaling Zhou, Attorney (CT, NY) and Xinyu Zhang, Ph.D., USPTO Reg. No. 83,930 · Rules reviewed: 2026-10-18

Which situation are you in?

CopyrightAmazon copyright / DMCA complaintPhotos, A+ content, packaging art, or video reported as infringing. Decide whether a counter-notice is safe.Counter-notice $450 PatentAmazon APEX patent evaluationA utility patent owner invoked APEX against your ASINs. Decide whether to participate before the deadline.From $500 + deposit CourtSchedule A lawsuit / TRO freezeYour store is listed as a defendant and your balance is restrained by a federal court order.Emergency review $800 TrademarkTrademark or counterfeit complaintBrand-name use, counterfeit allegation, or a reseller dispute where you have invoices or authorization.Appeal $600 PatentDesign patent or other patent complaintDesign patent reports cannot go through APEX. A written non-infringement position is often the next step.From $800 LetterCease-and-desist letterA brand or its lawyer demands that you stop selling or pay damages.Response from $800 Brand ownerCopycats, hijackers, stolen photosReport infringing listings across marketplaces and build the trademark and copyright record to back them.$300 per platform batch PreventionBefore you launch a productScreen for U.S. patents that could trigger complaints, and plan design patents for your own products.Screening $800

Four distinctions that decide most marketplace IP cases

A takedown is not a finding of infringement.A marketplace removes listings under its own policies. Whether you actually infringe depends on the validity and ownership of the right and on the product itself — and a listing left up is not proof that it is safe.
A DMCA counter-notice is for copyright only.The statutory counter-notice under 17 U.S.C. § 512(g) does not answer a trademark or patent complaint. A seller outside the United States who files one consents to the jurisdiction of a U.S. federal court.
APEX covers U.S. utility patents only.Amazon Patent Evaluation Express does not apply to design patents. Each participating party posts a $5,000 deposit; the prevailing party's deposit is returned.
An account hold and a court freeze are different.Amazon withholding funds during an account review follows Amazon's procedures. A TRO asset restraint in a Schedule A case is a federal court order and is changed only through the court or the plaintiff.

How an engagement works

Send the noticeEmail the complaint notice, ASINs or links, and store name. We run a conflict check against the complainant before reviewing.
Written triage in 2 business daysFor $250 you receive a written assessment of the right asserted, your defenses, and the realistic options.
Flat-fee quoteIf action is warranted, we quote a fixed professional fee for the next stage. The triage fee is credited if you engage within 14 days.
Execution and follow-upWe prepare the appeal, counter-notice, APEX submission, or letter, and follow the matter until the platform or the other side responds.

Flat-fee summary

Service	Professional fee	Includes	Not included
Infringement notice triage Copyright, trademark, or patent complaint on any marketplace	$250	One notice (up to 3 ASINs or listings); rights and ownership check; written memo with next steps within 2 business days. Credited in full if you engage us within 14 days.	Formal response documents
DMCA counter-notice review & preparation	$450	Ownership and defense review; explanation of the U.S. federal court jurisdiction consent; counter-notice drafting and submission guidance.	Defense if the complainant sues
Trademark / counterfeit complaint appeal	$600	Authenticity evidence (invoices, authorization chain); Account Health appeal; retraction request to the rights owner.	Trademark ownership proceedings (TTAB)
Amazon APEX · initial evaluation	$500	Patent status, asserted claim, accused ASINs, and product features reviewed; recommendation on whether to participate.	APEX deposit ($5,000 per party)
Amazon APEX · full representation	$3,000	Preparation of the evaluation submissions, written briefing, procedural follow-up, and communications. Earlier tiers credited.	APEX deposit ($5,000 per party)
Schedule A / TRO emergency case review	$800	Court docket pulled; plaintiff rights and allegations, frozen amount, and joinder reviewed; options memo within 48 hours.	Later settlement or defense stages
Marketplace infringement report (rights owner) Amazon, Walmart, Temu, TikTok Shop, eBay and others	$300 per platform per batch	Drafting and filing a report covering up to 10 listings.	Demand letters, litigation

Full schedule: E-commerce IP flat-fee schedule. Trademark filings for Brand Registry follow our standard trademark fee schedule; copyright registration follows our copyright fee schedule.

Marketplaces we handle

AmazonReport a Violation, Brand Registry, Account Health appeals, DMCA counter-notices, and APEX.

Walmart MarketplaceIP claims through the Brand Portal and copyright counter-notices.

Temu & TikTok ShopIP portal complaints, Seller Center appeals, and copyright counter-notices.

eBay, Etsy & ShopifyVeRO reports, Etsy IP policy notices, and Shopify copyright and trademark responses.

Google Merchant CenterProduct or account reviews where the issue is copyright, trademark, or counterfeit — distinct from misrepresentation suspensions.

Federal courtSchedule A / TRO matters, handled by counsel admitted to the relevant court, with local counsel where required.

ZYL Law is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any marketplace named on this page.

Who handles your matter

Yaling Zhou, founder and attorney admitted in Connecticut and New York, handles copyright, trademark, platform appeals, demand letters, and settlements. Xinyu Zhang, Ph.D., a USPTO-registered patent agent (Reg. No. 83,930), leads technical claim analysis for APEX and patent complaints; legal positions are reviewed by an attorney. Both work in English and Mandarin. Meet the team.

Frequently asked questions

Amazon removed my listing. Does that mean I infringed?

No. A takedown is a platform decision under its own policies, not a court finding. Whether you infringe depends on the right asserted, who owns it, and your product.

Can I file a DMCA counter-notice against a trademark complaint?

No. A DMCA counter-notice responds only to copyright claims. Trademark and counterfeit complaints are usually answered with authenticity evidence, authorization documents, or a retraction request from the rights owner.

What does Amazon APEX cost?

Each participating party posts a $5,000 deposit with the evaluation; the prevailing party's deposit is returned. Our professional fees are separate: $500 for an initial evaluation, $1,500 for a non-infringement claim chart, or $3,000 for full representation.

My account was frozen by a TRO. Do I have to settle immediately?

Not necessarily. In suitable cases the amount restrained, the joinder of defendants, and jurisdiction can be contested. Review the docket before deciding whether to settle or defend.

What do your prices include?

Listed amounts are professional fees only. Government fees, APEX deposits, and court costs are separate. Each matter receives a written quote, and the $250 triage fee is credited if you engage within 14 days.

Can you guarantee my listing will be reinstated?

No lawyer can guarantee what a marketplace, an APEX evaluator, or a court will decide. We commit to a defined scope, prompt handling, and a candid legal assessment.

You represent both sellers and brands. Is that a conflict?

Every matter is checked for conflicts before we review it. If a conflict exists with a current client, we decline the engagement.

Do you only handle Amazon?

No. We also handle IP complaints on Walmart Marketplace, Temu, TikTok Shop, eBay, Etsy, Shopify, and Google Merchant Center.

Primary sources

Platform rules, deposits, and fees change; confirm against your notice and the current platform rules before acting.

Attorney Advertising. This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Listed amounts are professional fees only and exclude government fees, APEX deposits, court costs, and other third-party charges; the written quote controls. No lawyer can guarantee how a platform, evaluator, or court will decide, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Engagement is subject to a conflict check. Federal court matters are handled by counsel admitted to the relevant court, with local counsel where required.

Send the notice you received

Forward the complaint email or a screenshot, your store name, and the affected ASINs or links to ip@zyllaw.com (patent and APEX matters: patent@zyllaw.com). We confirm the conflict check and the $250 triage engagement before any work begins.

Start urgent intake Email ip@zyllaw.com