Temu Considers Joining European Anti-Plagiarism Alliance

The Chinese online retailer Temu is considering joining a group of e-commerce platforms and brands that are collectively taking action against the sale of counterfeit products online in Europe. This possibility is highlighted by a meeting whose agenda was reviewed by Reuters. The so-called "Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Sale of Counterfeit Goods Online" is a voluntary agreement supported by the European Commission. Signatories include prominent online retailers such as Amazon, Alibaba, and eBay, as well as established brands like Adidas, Nike, Hermès, and Moncler. Temu is scheduled to present to the MoU members on November 11 as a "potential new signatory." Meanwhile, Temu did not publicly comment on the document, and a spokesperson for the European Commission also did not provide any remarks. Temu's interest in the network comes at a time when EU authorities are increasing pressure on the Chinese retailer to tighten its product controls to ensure that no illegal or unsafe items reach the European market. Temu's aggressive marketing strategy has led to rapid growth in Europe and the United States, attracting millions of users to the platform with enticingly low prices for a wide range of products. The slogan "shop like a billionaire" plays a key role in this strategy. An industry insider expressed concerns that the inclusion of Temu could undermine the credibility of the anti-counterfeiting network. After Temu's average monthly user numbers in the EU reached 75 million, the platform was classified by the European Commission as a "very large online platform," requiring enhanced measures against illegal and harmful content under the EU Digital Services Act (DSA). Bloomberg News recently reported that the Commission intends to launch an investigation into whether Temu may be violating the DSA. Previously, the Commission requested information from Temu on the steps the company is taking to prevent illegal products. Temu had until October 21 to provide the requested information. The Commission will decide on further actions based on the responses submitted.