On Wednesday 16^th July 2025, something wonderful happened: a global marketplace giant joined a video call with six small business owners to hear their stories of infringement battles, financial losses and proactive suggestions for improvement to take-down processes.

That’s right. TEMU met with ACID members to hear first-hand the problems faced by so many on their platform, with an openness to listen and willingness to help.

Joining the call were six ACID members who have actively tackled TEMU infringements head on, through participating in case studies, writing to their MP and appearing on local radio to name but a few strategies, whilst all the time painstakingly trawling TEMU for infringements, submitting take-downs and, of course, running their businesses.

Joining the ACID team: Laura, CEO; Dids, Chair and Co-Founder; Marion, Head of Membership; Faith, Social Media & Comms Executive were:

Victoria Wardingly, Hand Painted Stuff

John Parker, Berni Parker Designs

Laura Mysek, Wee Wishes

Sarah Hurley, Sarah Hurley Designs

Amanda Mountain, Lola Design

Sophie Cooke, Imogen’s Imagination

Each of these ACID ‘Super Six’ presented their stories to TEMU, with issues chiefly focussing on:

1. Repeat infringement
2. Seller onboarding
3. Financial losses

Following an introduction to the TEMU IP Protection Programme, all ACID members agreed the response was quick; however reporting the infringements had taken hours, even days, out of their schedules only to find these infringing listings would reappear days, weeks and months later. ACID members felt they were having to police TEMU’s platform because their algorithm for image recognition and repeat infringement was not working. Moreover, new sellers were joining the platform advertising previously reported infringing images and designs. Not only this, but many members reported their designs and images were being altered slightly or applied to products, such as cushions, they have never sold.

Both image and design infringement, and the apparent lack of punishment for repeat infringers were key frustrations for ACID members. TEMU have been receptive to these criticisms and comments, and intend to work together to rectify each situation proactively as well as reactively through their takedown tools. TEMU also stated their keenness to better understand ACID’s IP Databank as a verified source of truth of copyright and unregistered design ownership – something we are committed to making work for each and every one of our members.

Financial losses were also high on the agenda, with our members estimating their losses in both product sales and time to be in the order of tens of thousands of pounds. Unfortunately, there doesn’t appear to be a non-litigious mechanism in place yet, via TEMU, to tackle compensation for the rights’ holder. It was clear that TEMU have significant work to build trust with the design community and taking more decisive and punitive action against infringement earlier and more impactfully would go some way towards building trust.

So, what are the next steps?

TEMU thanked everyone very much for their feedback and ACID for organising the call. They were keen that our members on the call contacted them directly; both to resolve their issues but also further understand the nuances of each situation. At the time of writing, one member has already done this with seemingly positive results, which is encouraging, and we hope lasts.

We know there’s a long way to go and we’re only just scratching the surface on the issues so many of you are facing.

The good news? TEMU’s willingness to open, and keep open, these lines of communication. Our call ended with us all agreeing to meet again in several months’ time to discuss progress, feedback and raise any further questions or concerns. This landmark occasion is surely something that our ACID members and wider design community as a whole can feel optimistic about.

Watch this space.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or are facing infringement on TEMU yourself, please get in touch with us [email protected]

ACID would like to extend heartfelt thanks to each of our members who have joined us on this journey for sharing their candid, honest and challenging stories. Your voices have definitely resonated. ACID would also like to thank TEMU for engaging with us and we look forward to continuing to build on these positive foundations.

Join us in promoting a culture of respect for IP and protecting the rights of creatives by signing the ACID IP Charter today.