Shein loses UK copyright lawsuit against rival Temu over clothing photos

Online fashion giant Shein has lost a copyright lawsuit against rival e-commerce platform Temu, which accused the company of infringing its intellectual property on clothing photographs, according to the High Court in London. The dispute centered on product listings on Temu's UK website, where third-party sellers utilized photos from Shein's employees, as well as images obtained from agencies and suppliers.

Judge Kelyn Bacon's ruling stated that "Temu did not know or have reason to believe that the photographs infringed Shein's copyright." Founded in China in 2012 and currently headquartered in Singapore, Shein is a prominent figure in the "ultra-fast fashion" industry, characterized by its rapid production and low-cost clothing. Temu has experienced rapid growth since launching in Europe in 2023, driven by an aggressive pricing strategy.

The decision precedes Shein's anticipated initial public offering in Hong Kong, after securing approval from China's market regulator last month. Shein asserts that the ownership of the thousands of photographs at the core of the case is undisputed and claims Temu's liability is "simply because the servers supporting its UK website happen to sit in Ireland."

Temu has not yet provided a response to AFP's inquiries. The High Court also determined that Temu may be eligible for compensation from Shein, with the potential amount to be decided at a later stage.