Shein is not going down without a fight. The fast fashion giant filed a motion Thursday asking a judge to dismiss the lawsuit brought by Selena Quintanilla’s estate, arguing that the unlicensed merch at the center of the case came from third-party sellers, not Shein itself. According to the filing, the company removed all flagged items and blocked searches for“Selena”and“Selena Quintanilla”on its platform.
The estate, led by Selena’s sister Suzette Quintanilla through Q Productions, sued earlier this year over trademark and likeness claims. Their argument is that Shein profited directly from displaying and facilitating sales of knockoff merchandise tied to the late Tejano icon. Shein’s response leans on marketplace law, which the company says prevents direct liability for third-party listings appearing in search results.
This case is part of a bigger wave of legal battles between artist estates and online marketplaces. Temu is making nearly identical arguments in lawsuits from Twenty One Pilots and the MF Doom estate. Meanwhile, Selena’s estate is also dealing with a separate royalties lawsuit from her brother A.B. Quintanilla III. The judge hears Shein’s dismissal motion in late October, and the outcome could shape how platforms handle celebrity merch going forward.
Who do you think should be held responsible when knockoff celebrity merch shows up online? Sound off in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.