Swedish fast-fashion giant H&M has sued Chinese rival Shein in Hong Kong over copyright infringement.

Having reportedly prepared for the lawsuit since July 2021, H&M accused Shein of plagiarism and “stealing” the designs of its products, stating that there is “striking resemblance between the products showing they must have been copied”.

The Swedish retailer is seeking compensation for unspecified damages and an injunction to prevent Shein from repeating the copyright violation, according to Bloomberg.

The next hearing will be on July 31.

This is not the first time Shein is facing allegations related to plagiarism.

In June 2022, an American freelance artist sued the Chinese brand for US$100 million, alleging the company copied her artwork without permission.