Shein v. Temu Goes to London Court—But Washington Is Watching Both

In Washington, federal courts have been handling parallel lawsuits with Temu and Shein since 2023.

Guests attend SHEIN X Art Discovery Project in El Monte, Calif., on Sept. 17, 2022. Presley Ann/Getty Images for SHEIN

Two Chinese-linked fast-fashion platforms brought their global corporate war to London’s High Court on May 11, as Shein accused rival Temu of copyright infringement “on an industrial scale,” even as both companies face mounting scrutiny from American lawmakers, law enforcement, and intelligence officials over forced labor, data security, and counterfeit goods.

The two-week London trial opened with Shein’s attorney Benet Brandreth telling the court that Temu systematically copied thousands of Shein’s product photographs to advertise knockoff clothing on its platform—a calculated move, Brandreth argued, to “piggy-back” on a more established competitor.