Shein asked to pay compensation to Lacoste
Online fashion company Shein stated that its legal dispute with Lacoste in France is not over, despite a court ruling awarding the French brand interim damages.
In an official statement on Friday, Shein emphasized that the court’s ruling on July 9, 2026, does not address the merits of the case. The company stated that the main legal proceedings are still ongoing, so no final decision has been made regarding the dispute.
“The decision issued on July 9, 2026, relates only to the interim process. The substantive proceedings are ongoing, and no final decision has been made regarding the merits of the case,” said a Shein spokesperson.
The case stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Lacoste regarding the sale of several products on Shein’s platform that allegedly used the brand’s crocodile logo without permission. In the interim ruling, the French court ordered Shein to pay Lacoste 110,000 euros (approximately US$125,700) in damages.
Shein stated that it has cooperated throughout the investigation. The company also claimed to have immediately removed the products in question after receiving notification from the brand owner.
“Shein takes the protection of intellectual property rights seriously and has worked closely with Lacoste throughout this process, including promptly removing the products in question upon notification,” a company spokesperson said.
Lacoste is a French fashion brand founded in 1933 by former tennis champion René Lacoste. The company’s iconic crocodile logo is inspired by René Lacoste’s nickname, “The Crocodile.” Since 2012, the brand has been owned by the Swiss family company, Maus Frères.
Although an interim order has been awarded, the final outcome of the dispute is pending further proceedings in the French courts.
