Shein Files to Dismiss Selena Quintanilla Estate Lawsuit Over Alleged Knockoff Merch

The dispute between Shein and Selena Quintanilla’s estate is escalating. Now, the fast-fashion marketplace is asking a judge to dismiss a lawsuit Selena’s sister, Suzette Quintanilla, filed earlier this year. The motion was filed Thursday, Sept. 17, according to reporting from Billboard.

Suzette Quintanilla—sister of the late Tejano star and the person who manages Selena’s estate through Q Productions—alleges that Selena’s trademarks and name, image, and likeness rights were infringed through Selena-themed merchandise that appeared in listings for sale on Shein’s platform, including T-shirts featuring the singer’s face and the classic “Selena” logo. Shein, however, says the allegations are baseless, Billboard reports.

Shein has said it removed the listings Q Productions flagged and launched an internal investigation. In a statement previously shared with People, the company said third-party sellers were selling the products in question on Shein Marketplace. Shein also says it implemented a filter that blocks searches for “Selena” and “Selena Quintanilla.” But Shein’s argument is that it shouldn’t be held responsible for products it says it didn’t make: Shein sells both Shein-branded items and third-party products from independent merchants, and the merchandise at issue reportedly came from third-party sellers.

“While Q Productions contends that Shein is directly liable for displaying allegedly infringing third-party product listings in user-generated search results and for facilitating third-party sales, case law confirms that direct liability cannot be imposed on an online marketplace for merely providing a search tool that displays allegedly infringing third-party content in response to user-generated search queries, or for facilitating third-party transactions by processing payments or fulfilling orders,” Shein’s lawyers said.

This isn’t the only lawsuit involving the Selena estate. Selena’s brother, A.B. Quintanilla III, also recently sued, alleging the estate underpaid his share of profits from the late singer’s music. Suzette and her mother, Marcella Quintanilla, have said these are “false accusations.”