H&M sues fast fashion rival Shein for copyright infringement

Fast-fashion retailer Shein is being sued by Hennes & Mauritz AB for copyright infringement in Hong Kong, where the litigation aimed at mitigating the threat posed by its Chinese rival has been underway since 2021.

Zoetop Business Co, the Hong Kong-based entity that previously owned Shein, is among the defendants, as is Shein Group Ltd, according to a writ of summons issued in July 2021 and recently obtained by Bloomberg News.

Stockholm-based H&M asked for unspecified damages and an injunction to stop Shein from infringing on its copyright and trademarks.

Details of the filing, including photos of dozens of items from swimwear to sweaters that H&M said was evidence that Shein stole its designs, were released to the public after a hearing at the Hong Kong High Court on June 21. The next hearing is slated to take place July 31.

H&M confirmed it filed a lawsuit against Shein in Hong Kong, claiming its fast-fashion competitor “in multiple cases has infringed on our designs,” according to a spokesperson for the Swedish fashion retailer. Shein declined to comment on pending litigation.

H&M fell less than 1% in early trading.

The Hong Kong court heard the case for the first time last September, and the judge allowed the case to proceed, according to a separate document released in May.