Shein Sues Temu Over Copyright Infringement as It Awaits Own Ruling

Shein claims that Temu “masquerades” as a marketplace platform but, in fact, “controls every aspect of its seller’s activities,” and it has asked a federal judge to prohibit Temu from copying Shein’s materials.
“The audacity is unbelievable,” a Temu spokesperson said in a statement about the new lawsuit. “SHEIN, buried under its own mountain of IP lawsuits, has the nerve to fabricate accusations against others for the very misconduct they’re repeatedly sued for.”
Shein claims that Temu actively encourages sellers to counterfeit copyrighted products and attached screenshots of several digital ads and social media accounts showing Temu appearing to advertise as Shein but using links that direct to Temu pages.
In recent lawsuits, both parties have alleged underhanded behavior from the other side.
That lawsuit also revealed that Temu receives 170 copyright infringement takedown notices daily, with an average of 63 percent coming from Shein.
Temu also claimed that Shein has a practice of shaming and intimidating suppliers into not working with other companies, even confiscating vendors’ phones and forcing them to sign contracts during visits to Shein’s office in China. Temu claimed that some suppliers who work with Temu were invited to Shein’s office for a meeting and then “falsely imprisoned” in an inspection room for hours before they were allowed to leave.