Global fast-fashion brand, Shein, is embroiled in a lawsuit with Twitter as it seeks to eradicate copycat accounts that are tarnishing its image online. In court documents reviewed by Insider, Roadget Business Pte. Ltd., the Singapore-based parent company of Shein, asserts that fake Twitter accounts using Shein’s trademark to promote non-Shein products are causing significant damage to the brand’s reputation.
Despite facing criticism for its remarkably inexpensive clothing and allegations of labor violations, Shein remains a widely recognized brand. The company is speculating that rival fast-fashion company, Temu, could be behind the counterfeit accounts. This rivalry comes as competition between the two fashion giants intensifies. Reports from May indicated that US spending on Temu was 20% higher than on Shein.
Also Read: A Detailed Look into Meta’s Threads: A Pioneering Social Platform Amid Controversy and Triumph
In its pursuit of justice, Shein is aiming to disclose the IP addresses, advertising identification numbers, messages, account contacts, and phone numbers associated with the fraudulent accounts. However, Twitter has so far refused to comply with the subpoena for account information, citing that the request infringes the Stored Communications Act, a law that protects privacy.
“Twitter further objects to the Subpoena because you have provided no documentation demonstrating that the Court considered and imposed the First Amendment safeguards required before a litigant may be permitted to unmask the identity of an anonymous speaker,” Twitter’s legal team responded.
While the official Shein Twitter account remains active and verified, alleged impersonating accounts, such as @SHEIN_NYC, have been suspended. Despite the pushback, Roadget Business is undeterred and intends to persist in its pursuit of the counterfeit account information, emphasizing its concerns over trademark infringement and brand safety.
“We understand that any further attempt to resolve this without Court intervention is futile,” Roadget Business lawyers wrote to Twitter’s legal team in May. “We will proceed accordingly.”
This news is based on Business Insider.
