Brand Protection Glossary
Plain-language definitions for the terms that come up when protecting a brand online, from typosquatting to marketplace takedowns.
Fraudulent use of paid advertising to impersonate a brand or divert ad spend and traffic.
App CloningCopying a legitimate app’s branding or interface to publish a deceptive lookalike app.
A fake social media account or page using a brand’s identity, usually to run a scam.
A marketplace listing that sells a fake product as if it were the real, genuine one.
Continuous monitoring for threats against a brand’s identity, customers and assets across the internet.
A marketplace listing that misrepresents itself as, or copies, a genuine product to deceive a buyer.
Genuine products sold outside the manufacturer’s authorised distribution channel.
Ongoing scanning of e-commerce marketplaces for counterfeit or unauthorised listings.
The ongoing practice of monitoring the internet for brand misuse and acting to have it removed.
Online Brand AbuseThe umbrella term for any misuse of a brand’s identity online, from counterfeit listings to impersonation.
A website built to impersonate a real brand and steal customer credentials or payment details.
Searching the web for other instances of a specific image, used to trace copied product photos.
Rogue AppA mobile app that clones or impersonates a brand’s real app to mislead users.
Confirming a marketplace seller’s identity and authorisation to sell a brand’s products.
SKU-Level MatchingVerifying a listing against a brand’s real catalogue data, not just a keyword match.
A formal notice asking a platform to remove infringing content.
TyposquattingA lookalike domain registered on a common misspelling of a real brand’s web address.
A seller offering a brand’s products without permission, outside its approved distribution network.