After storming global markets and making huge profits in recent years from e-commerce, the Chinese company “Shein” is facing a new competitor that it accuses of stealing its products and designs.
Shein has filed an 80-page lawsuit against its compatriot Timo in a Washington, D.C., court. The lawsuit alleges that Timo engaged in “brazen behavior” by stealing trade secrets that define our best-selling products, then ordering its vendors to copy those products to help it compete with us.
A spokesperson for Timo responded to Shein’s accusations, saying, “Shein, buried under a mountain of intellectual property lawsuits, dares to fabricate accusations against others for the same bad behavior it engages in.”
According to international brands, Shein relies on attracting producers and sellers by imitating the most famous and best-selling international brands in the markets, which prompted many international brands to file lawsuits against the company on charges of theft.
But it seems that Shein has tasted from the same cup after Timo imitated its products and sold them at cheap prices, enabling consumers to buy products for one dollar while their value is tens of dollars.
Shein was furious with its new competitor, accusing it of stealing its products and designs, counterfeiting, fraud and violating its intellectual property.
Comments and Tweets
The legal war between the two Chinese companies brought about many comments on social media, some of which were monitored by the episode (2024/8/25) of the “Networks” program.
Nour was not surprised by the war between the two Chinese companies, and said, “What is wrong if Shein sued Timo? How can the original company design its own things and invest millions of dollars, and then another company comes and takes them in cold blood? This is unreasonable and illogical, and Timo must be held accountable for its actions.”
Milad commented on the subject, saying, “I stay away from such companies, because their low prices raise a thousand doubts, especially since they are new to the scene.”
“Shopping companies make everyday life easier, but beware of them, especially those with low prices, because they may be selling consumer data,” Laura wrote.
As for Shaher, he commented in a humorous way, saying: “Based on whether their goods are original or brands…it is all imitation work.”
It is noteworthy that the industrial economy in China is based on imitating Western products and exporting them to global markets at reduced prices, such as clothing, phones, watches, cars, and others.
