Shein loses UK copyright lawsuit against rival Temu

A London court has ruled in favor of Temu in a copyright infringement lawsuit brought by Shein. Shein had accused Temu of using its own-brand clothing photos on an “industrial scale” to benefit from Shein’s established brand.

Judge Kelyn Bacon rejected Shein’s claims, noting that Shein failed to prove Temu itself performed the reproduction. Furthermore, the judge ruled that even if infringement occurred, Temu would not be liable under UK law because the reproduction took place outside the United Kingdom, as Temu’s servers are located in Ireland. The court also accepted Temu’s “hosting defence,” stating that Temu acts as a neutral third-party platform that prohibits merchants from uploading infringing content and lacked actual knowledge of the alleged violations.

The ruling is part of a broader global legal conflict between the two e-commerce giants. Temu has filed a counterclaim in the UK alleging that Shein violated competition law by forcing suppliers into exclusive agreements. This antitrust case is expected to go to trial in 2027. Additionally, the companies are engaged in various legal battles in the United States involving allegations of trade secret theft, antitrust violations, and unfair competition.