Selena Quintanilla’s Sister Files Lawsuit Against Shein for Knockoff Merchandise Featuring Late Singer’s Image
Selena Quintanilla’s Sister Sues Shein Over Knockoff Merch Bearing Late Singer’s Likeness
The lawsuit alleges the e-commerce giant is infringing multiple Selena-related trademarks owned by Suzette Quintanilla and her company, Q Productions.
Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Selena Quintanilla’s sister, Suzette Quintanilla, has initiated legal action against Shein, alleging the Chinese e-commerce platform is profiting from unlicensed merchandise that uses her late sister’s name, image, and likeness without authorization.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in California on March 11. Suzette Quintanilla’s legal team accuses Shein, a well-known global retailer based in Nanjing, China, of manufacturing and selling numerous products—primarily T-shirts and accessories—that feature Selena’s trademarks and likeness without permission or payment of any royalties.
According to the complaint, Suzette’s company, Q Productions, had previously sent Shein a cease and desist letter in August, clearly asserting its rights over the Selena trademarks. Nonetheless, the lawsuit claims that Shein continued to sell and distribute the infringing products, deliberately disregarding the rights holder’s demands.
“To date, Defendants continue to willfully and unlawfully exploit Plaintiffs’ Selena Marks and rights of publicity in commerce against the express demands by Plaintiffs to cease and desist such use,” state Suzette Quintanilla’s attorneys, Thomas K. Richards and Justin R. Trauben.
The legal action accuses Shein of multiple violations, including trademark infringement, unfair competition, and rights of publicity. Suzette is seeking damages for unauthorized use and expects a court order to prohibit Shein from further selling merchandise bearing her sister’s likeness and trademarks.
As of now, Shein has not responded publicly to the lawsuit. The case underscores ongoing concerns over how major online marketplaces manage intellectual property rights, especially regarding methods used by counterfeiters and unauthorized sellers.
This legal move follows a pattern of recent lawsuits against e-commerce platforms like Temu, which was sued by bands such as Twenty One Pilots for selling counterfeit merchandise, and estate claims against Temu for similar reasons. While some suits have been dismissed or revised, the trend highlights the persistent challenge of policing counterfeit and unlicensed goods online.
