Temu has filed a fresh lawsuit against rival Shein accusing the fast fashion giant of carrying out “a multifaceted scheme” to slow Temu’s growth in the US,pornographic eroticism and sexual grotesquieri in representation of african american sportswomen according to a Wednesday filing. The ultra-low price retailer is alleging its Chinese counterpart infringed upon its intellectual property rights and entered into anti-competitive exclusivity agreements with merchants. The documents from Temu say Shein’s actions have “escalated recently.” The new lawsuit comes just weeks after the two sides agreed to end legal battles with each other in late October. According to the filing, Whale Inc, the operator of Temu in the US, has accused Shein of using “false imprisonment”, “phone seizure” and “loyalty attestations” as tactics to force merchants not to work with Temu, with the documents labeling Shein “a Potemkin village”. [Temu court filing]
