Shein Files Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Temu Amid Escalating Legal Battle

Online fast-fashion giant Shein has filed a new lawsuit against rival Temu, accusing the China-founded shopping platform of copyright infringement, including stealing designs, copying product images and engaging in fraudulent activities. The lawsuit, filed this week in a federal court in Washington, alleges that Temu subsidized its low prices by encouraging sellers to offer counterfeit items, stolen designs and inferior products.

The legal action marks the latest escalation in an ongoing feud between the two companies, who have previously sued each other in U.S. court. Temu, owned by Chinese e-commerce company PDD Holdings, has refuted Shein’s claims, accusing the company of unfair supply chain practices, including forcing manufacturers not to work with Temu.

In response to the new lawsuit, a spokesperson for Temu stated, “Shein, buried under its own mountain of IP lawsuits, has the audacity to fabricate accusations against others for the very misconduct for which it is repeatedly sued.” The spokesperson criticized Shein’s actions as hypocritical, as Shein itself has faced numerous lawsuits from brands and designers accusing the company of selling counterfeit goods.

Shein’s legal complaint also alleges that a Temu employee stole trade secrets, including information about top-selling products and internal pricing strategies. Additionally, Shein accused Temu of misleading consumers by creating fake accounts on X (formerly Twitter) that falsely represented themselves as Shein and directed customers to Temu’s platform. Shein further alleged that Temu engaged in similar practices via sponsored Google ads.

The legal battle between Shein and Temu has intensified. Both companies dropped their lawsuits in October, but Temu filed a new lawsuit in December, accusing Shein of using “mafia-style intimidation” against suppliers to hinder Temu’s growth in the U.S.