Shein loses UK copyright lawsuit against rival Temu over clothing photos

Online fast-fashion giant Shein has lost a London lawsuit against its rival Temu concerning alleged copyright infringement of product photos. The ruling comes as Shein prepares for a significant initial public offering valued between $30 billion and $40 billion.

The London court dismissed Shein's claims that Temu had infringed its copyright by using photos of its products to advertise copies. Instead, the court upheld Temu's counterclaim, which sought damages after Temu was forced to remove listings when Shein obtained an injunction earlier in their legal battle.

A spokesperson for Shein stated the company was surprised by the decision, adding, "We do not believe that is the right outcome for brands and rights holders seeking to protect their copyright online." Temu, owned by PDD Holdings, has not yet responded to a request for comment. Temu had previously denied Shein's allegations of large-scale copyright infringement, arguing that Shein was using litigation to suppress competition.

This legal battle is part of a broader conflict between the two rapidly expanding international platforms. Shein and Temu have also sued each other in the United States. Furthermore, Temu has a separate counterclaim alleging that Shein violated competition law by enforcing exclusive agreements with fast-fashion suppliers, which is scheduled to go to trial next year.

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We do not believe that is the right outcome for brands and rights holders seeking to protect their copyright online.