Shein loses UK copyright lawsuit against rival Temu over photos of clothing

Online fast-fashion platform Shein lost a UK copyright lawsuit against rival platform Temu, according to Thursday's ruling. The decision could benefit online marketplaces with third-party sellers. Shein accused Temu of copyright infringement, claiming Temu used photos of Shein's own-brand clothing. However, Judge Kelyn Bacon ruled against Shein, stating that even if infringement occurred, Temu could not be held liable due to its servers being located outside the UK.

Shein's spokesperson confirmed the photos belonged to Shein but emphasized that the infringement on an industrial scale had been avoided because the UK servers are in Ireland. The lawsuit also involved a counterclaim by Temu, alleging that Shein broke competition law by tying suppliers to exclusive agreements. Temu's counterclaim is scheduled for trial next year.