Online marketplace giant Temu is being called out by one Aussie mum for blatantly stealing and reproducing her designs. To make matters worse, she says artists like her are “helpless” to fight against the art theft.
Queensland-based graphic designer Lauren Sissons runs a small business online where she sells cards, notepads, and stationery items that are patterned with her original designs.
Her business, Laura Sissons Studio, has given the mother of two a chance to develop her art and make an income running an online store, as well as a successful social media page with thousands of followers.
@lauren_sissons_studio I am still shocked!! This is the dream for a small business owner, people loving your designs 💖 So grateful! @Geebungalow – Roisin #smallbusinessowner #packingorders #australiansmallbusiness #toddlermum #flashcards #educationaltoy #toddleractivities ♬ original sound – Lauren Sissons Studio
Unfortunately for Sissons, her unique designs have become so popular that they’ve become the target of online art theft on Temu.
The Chinese-owned shopping giant has long been accused of taking designs from small artists, slapping them on a product and selling it by the thousands, with no compensation for the original artist.
And as Sissons unfortunately found, her original art is now being printed on Temu, and she’s not seeing a cent for it.
“Temu are it once again — out here, stealing artists’ work, mass producing it and taking no accountability,” she said in a TikTok.
“It is the worst feeling as a small business owner and artist to pour your heart into these original designs… and to see them literally being stolen and reproduced, being sold for a couple of dollars.”
The Sunshine Coast artist then shared that it leaves her feeling “helpless”, as even if one of the rip-offs is stopped, there is no preventing it from happening again.
@lauren_sissons_studio @Temu continue to sell designs that are taken from small artists. This is the worst feeling as a small business owner #temu #temufinds #temuhaul #smallartist #artistsoftiktok #fyp #supportsmallbusiness ♬ original sound – Lauren Sissons Studio
Appearing on Nine’s A Current Affair (ACA), Laura Sissons shared how after she found one of the designs she sells for $25 being re-sold on another product for just $4.99, she tried having the stolen design removed from Temu — and was initially rejected.
“I got a reply basically saying, ‘No, we’re not gonna remove it,'” she told ACA.
“Eventually [Temu] came back a few days later and informed me that they’d removed that listing.”
Sissons told the program she felt helpless, as one individual trying to fight “a huge system”.
“I believe it’s a platform built on exploiting those artists and individuals and small businesses,” she said.
So like, what are artists and small business owners supposed to do in this David vs Goliath battle?
Lawyer Richard Mitri told ACA that even though artists are protected by the laws in Australia and overseas, actually fighting the theft is a huge uphill battle — which the thieves know and exploit.
“People who are producing these goods probably know how hard it’s going to be for somebody in a different country, who’s an artist, may not have the financial means to go and stop it,” said Mitri.
“They’re making money, they’re selling products for 1/100th if not less of the value of what they’re worth to the person in Australia, and know they can keep doing it almost with impunity.”
According to the lawyer, ultimately the responsibility to police this exploitation should be on Temu, not the artists having their work ripped off.
@lauren_sissons_studio I’m looking at you Temu 🥰 #temu #temuhaul #temufinds #artistsoftiktok #mumpreneur #smallbusinesscheck #australianartist #smallbusinessaustralia ♬ Idea 10 – Gibran Alcocer
In response to the accusations from Sissons that Temu was letting its platform exploit small artists around the world, a spokesperson provided Nine with a statement saying it has “strict policies against sellers who violate intellectual property rights”.
“For repeat offenders or those who act in bad faith, we may impose multiple penalties, including permanently banning them from the platform,” read Temu’s statement.
“We also maintain a blocklist to prevent problematic sellers from returning under a different name.”
The online marketplace giant also said it conducts spot checks to ensure products are meeting relevant standards, and has a thorough onboarding process for new sellers on its platform.
Earlier this year, France implemented a law that would introduce a heavier tax on fast-fashion brands like Temu and Shein, in order to penalise these companies’ environmental impact. Calls were made for a similar law to be implemented in Australia.
[Image: Laura Sissons/TikTok/Nine/]
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