--- title: "Shein accuses Temu of 'industrial scale' copyright breaches in UK legal battle" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/286113923.md" description: "Shein has accused Temu of large-scale copyright infringement in a legal battle at London's High Court, claiming Temu used thousands of its photos to promote copies of its clothing. Temu counters that Shein is using litigation to hinder competition. The case could impact platform practices and intellectual property enforcement in global e-commerce. Temu has also counter-claimed for damages after removing product listings due to Shein's injunction. Both companies are involved in a broader legal conflict, with implications for their rapid international expansion amid regulatory changes." datetime: "2026-05-12T13:36:58.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/286113923.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286113923.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/286113923.md) --- # Shein accuses Temu of 'industrial scale' copyright breaches in UK legal battle LONDON, May 11 (Reuters) - Online fast-fashion platform Shein accused Temu of copyright infringement "on an industrial scale", while Temu countered that Shein is using litigation to stifle ‌competition, as a trial opened at London's High Court on Monday. The case is ‌part of a global legal battle between the fast-growing rivals, with potential implications for platform practices, supplier relationships and ​the enforcement of intellectual property rights across global e-commerce. Shein alleges Temu used thousands of its photos to advertise copies of Shein's own-brand clothing on its website, to "piggy-back" on a more established competitor. "This was an attempt to steal a march on an existing participant in the market and ‌Temu has sought to obtain, we ⁠say, an unfair advantage," Shein's lawyer Benet Brandreth said. Temu denies the allegations and a spokesperson for the company said on Tuesday the High ⁠Court in April ruled in Temu's favour in relation to 15 of 20 sample product listings that were due to be heard at the trial, after Shein dropped that part of its case. TEMU ​COUNTER-CLAIM OVER ​REMOVED PRODUCTS Brandreth told the court Temu has dropped ​its defence to Shein's copyright claims ‌over nearly 2,300 photos taken by Shein employees, likening it to "the defendant waiting to see if the witnesses will turn up, only to plead guilty". Temu – owned by PDD Holdings – has counter-claimed, seeking damages after it had to remove thousands of product listings when Shein obtained an injunction. It also alleges Shein broke competition law by tying fast-fashion suppliers to exclusive agreements. That ‌part of the case is due to go to ​trial next year. Temu's lawyers argue Shein's lawsuit is not ​a legitimate attempt to stop copyright ​infringement, but is designed to secure a competitive advantage. The two-week London trial ‌is the latest legal battle between the ​two rivals, which have ​also sued each other in the U.S., and comes amid intensifying regulatory scrutiny. Shein and Temu have expanded rapidly in international markets with low-cost clothing, accessories and gadgets. ​But the removal of a ‌U.S. customs exemption on low-value e-commerce parcels last year – with the European Union set ​to follow in July – could weigh on growth. ($1 = 0.7358 pounds) (Reporting by Sam ​Tobin; Editing by Mark Potter and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) ### Related Stocks - [PDD.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/PDD.US.md) - [PDDL.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/PDDL.US.md) - [KPDD.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/KPDD.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [SHEIN and Temu Copyright War Just Got Nasty With a High Court Showdown](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286085192.md) - [Shein accuses Temu of 'industrial scale' copyright breaches in UK legal battle](https://longbridge.com/en/news/285940369.md) - [Fast Fashion Giant SHEIN Buys Out Everlane for $100 Million](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286766131.md) - [FinMin, states in talks for simpler GST norms for qcom dark stores](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286950550.md) - [Millennial-era retail was supposed to have principles. But lower prices have won out.](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286958311.md)