Nelly wins court case against Shein
The Swedish fashion retailer Nelly has won its lawsuit against the Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein for copyright infringement. Stockholm District Court orders Shein to pay 1.5 million SEK in damages. The ruling highlights the importance of protecting designs in the fashion industry.
The Swedish online fashion retailer Nelly sued Shein in March 2022 for copying several of their exclusive designs. The case involved plagiarism of clothing and accessories that Nelly developed in collaboration with designers. After a prolonged process in Stockholm District Court, the ruling went in Nelly's favor on October 10, 2023.
The court determined that Shein violated copyright law by selling copies of Nelly's products on the European market. The 1.5 million SEK damages cover lost sales and legal costs. "We are pleased with the ruling, which confirms that we must protect our creativity," says Nelly's CEO, Anna-Karin Dahlberg, in a comment to Aftonbladet.
Shein, one of the world's largest e-commerce platforms for fashion, has faced prior criticism for similar infringements. The company, based in China with headquarters in Singapore, sells millions of products at low prices. According to Expressen, Shein has not publicly commented on the ruling yet, but industry experts view it as a precedent for European brands against global players.
The dispute's background lies in the fashion industry's fast pace, where copying is common. Nelly, founded in 1999, focuses on young fashion and has fought to maintain its unique identity. The ruling could lead to more similar cases, as EU regulations on intellectual property strengthen. No appeals have been reported so far.