Shein is suing Temu in UK Court

May 11 2026

Fast-fashion giants Shein and Temu are now locked in a major legal showdown in the United Kingdom, with Shein accusing its rival of carrying out copyright infringement on an “industrial scale.”

The case, which opened Monday in London’s High Court, centers on allegations that Temu used thousands of Shein’s product images to advertise what Shein claims were copied versions of its clothing designs.

According to court filings, Shein argues that Temu attempted to gain an unfair advantage by leveraging the popularity and branding of the more established retailer.

During proceedings, lawyers representing Shein said Temu had withdrawn parts of its defense tied to nearly 2,300 disputed images reportedly created by Shein employees. Shein maintains that the actions were deliberate and part of a broader effort to mirror its products and attract customers.

Temu, however, strongly rejected the accusations and argued that the lawsuit is an attempt to suppress competition in the fast-growing online retail market. The company claims independent sellers are responsible for their own listings and has filed a counterclaim seeking damages after thousands of products were removed from its platform following a court injunction obtained by Shein.

The legal dispute is the latest chapter in an escalating global rivalry between the two Chinese-founded retail platforms, both of which have rapidly expanded worldwide through ultra-low-cost clothing and accessories. The companies are already involved in multiple legal battles in the United States over copyright and competition-related allegations.

(Rueters)

The London trial is expected to continue for two weeks, while additional competition-related claims between the companies are scheduled to be heard next year.