H&M Sues Shein for Copyright Infringement — Retail Bum

Swedish retailer H&M has filed a copyright infringement case against Shein for allegedly copying dozens of its designs.

In its legal filing, H&M has submitted photos of items ranging from swimwear to sweaters as evidence against Shein. The company is seeking legal damages and a court injunction to stop Shein from violating its trademarks and copyrights.

According to sources, H&M began building its case against Shein around 2021, just as Shein began establishing itself as a global ultra-fast fashion company. The case was first brought to the court in September 2022 and was allowed by the judge to proceed. The most recent case hearing occurred on June 21, 2023, at the Hong Kong High Court, and the next one is scheduled for July 31, 2023.

H&M’s copyright case against Shein adds to the controversial company’s growing legal challenges. Less than two weeks ago, Shein was sued by a group of independent designers in a California federal court for infringement-related racketeering activities. The designers have accused Shein of using a “secretive algorithm” that identifies trending art and helps Shein illegitimately reproduce artists’ work for its various products.

In the lawsuit, the artists reportedly allege that Shein leans back on its confusing corporate structure to avoid…