H&M has filed a lawsuit against Chinese fast fashion retailer Shein for copyright infringement, court documents filed in Hong Kong confirm.
The Swedish fashion retailer has accused Shein of copying its designs and is seeking damages and an injunction to prevent the firm from doing so again in the future.
Both Shein Group Ltd and Zoetop Business, the Hong Kong firm that previously owned the online retailer, are named as defendants in the filing, with the series of litigation reportedly underway since July 2021.
H&M submitted photos of swimwear and sweaters as “evidence Shein had stolen its designs, according to Bloomberg.
A statement given to The Independent by H&M said confirmed an “ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit towards Shein filed in Hong Kong.”
“We believe that Shein in multiple cases has infringed on our designs and have therefore filed this lawsuit. As it is still an ongoing case, we choose not to comment further.”
The copyright infringement case was first heard in Hong Kong last September, with the judge allowing the case to proceed.
The most recent hearing took place at the Hong Kong High Court on 21 June, followed by the next hearing on 31 July.