Online fast-fashion platform Shein on Thursday lost its London lawsuit against rival Temu over alleged copyright infringement, in a ruling that could be beneficial for online marketplaces hosting third-party sellers. The ruling, which comes as Shein aims for a more than US$30 billion valuation in a Hong Kong initial public offering, concerns the first round of the companies’ London legal battle. Temu’s counterclaim that Shein broke competition law by tying suppliers to exclusive agreements is due to go to trial next year. Shein had accused Temu of breaching its copyright “on an industrial scale”,arguing at a trial in Maythat Temu – owned by PDD Holdings – used photos of Shein’s own-brand clothing to “piggy-back” on a more established competitor. Judge Kelyn Bacon rejected Shein’s arguments that Temu infringed Shein’s copyright and said that, even if it had infringed, Temu would not be liable.