"VKontakte and Avito have been included in the US list of counterfeit platforms

The social network VKontakte and marketplace Avito have been included in the annual review of counterfeiting and piracy markets prepared by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). Information about this was published in the USTR report for 2024 on the official website of the agency on January 8, according to the publication “Kommersant”.

According to the report, since 2022, “VKontakte” refuses to cooperate with copyright holders and remove pirated content. Avito, on the other hand, allegedly ignores numerous requests from rights holders, and the platform does not take action to combat the sale of counterfeit goods.

USTR alleges that both marketplaces are failing to comply with the demands of U.S. rights holders who continue to make intellectual property rights requests to them.

While inclusion on the list has no direct impact on the business of these companies, it is a reputational tool. Experts interviewed by Kommersant believe that this decision may be the result of Western researchers' insufficient understanding of the specifics of the Russian market.