A Group of Artists Is Suing Fast-Fashion Giant Shein, Claiming It Used a ‘Secretive Algorithm’ to Identify and Steal Their Work
The Chinese online retailer Shein has allegedly used a “secretive algorithm” to identify trending art and steal the designs from the artists who made them to reproduce on its fast-fashion clothing. The revelation was made in a lawsuit filed by artists Krista Perry, Larissa Martinez, and Jay Baron filed in a US District Court in Los Angeles. The artists allege the company violated federal laws for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations, known as RICO. “Shein is actually a greater societal threat than TikTok because it contributes mightily to serious problems beyond data security and privacy,” the lawsuit reads. “The brand has made billions by creating a secretive algorithm that astonishingly determines nascent fashion trends… coupling it with a corporate structure, including production and fulfillment schemes that are perfectly executed to grease the wheels of the algorithm,...
