Shein has accused rival Temu of "industrial-scale" copyright violations in a London High Court case, escalating their global legal battle. Fast fashion's titans are clashing over claims that Temu allowed third-party merchants to use thousands of photographs lifted directly from Shein's website, while Temu maintains it operates only as a neutral platform.

The case addresses a critical question for e-commerce platforms: how much responsibility they bear for vendor content. Shein argues Temu actively enabled copyright infringement, while Temu counters that the disputed images lack proper copyright ownership documentation, with legal counsel calling the claim value "paltry" at approximately £2 per photo set.

This legal clash between China-founded retail giants stems from their similar business models and intensifying market competition. With both companies previously accused of copying designs, the outcome could reshape how online marketplaces handle third-party vendor content and intellectual property rights.