‘Platform built on exploiting those artists’: Australian small business owner claims Temu sold her designs without permission

An Australian graphic designer was left stunned when she discovered an online shopping giant was selling items eerily similar to her own.

An Australian small business owner and graphic designer claims online shopping giant Temu sold her designs without permission.

Lauren Sissons designs cards, art prints, notepads and other stationery items for her business Lauren Sissons Studio.

Based in Queensland on the Sunshine Coast, Ms Sissons has gained popularity nationally as well as across the globe.

However, she was shocked to find her designs being advertised on Chinese-owned shopping giant Temu.

“It came to my attention a few months ago when I was actually on Pinterest and I saw an ad of one of my greeting cards that I knew wasn’t my mock up,“ she told A Current Affair.

“I clicked through and it took me to Temu.”

Australian small business owner Laura Sissons claims Temu sold her designs without permission. Picture: A Current Affair/ Nine

Contacting Temu, Ms Sissons claimed she was told the shopping giant wouldn’t remove her greeting card.

“I went back, uploaded screenshots of my artwork, I provided photos of it physically in my hand,” she said.

“Eventually they came back a few days later and informed me that they’d removed that listing.”

However, within a few weeks Temu allegedly listed another item identical to one of Ms Sissons’.

Her $25 alphabet print was reportedly available on the site for $4.99, with Ms Sissons claiming Temu is “exploiting” artists.

Ms Sissons claimed Temu sold her $25 alphabet print for $4.99. Picture: A Current Affair/ Nine

Ms Sissons’ business sells greeting cards and other stationery items. Picture: A Current Affair/ Nine

“It feels like someone’s been looking at your work in an opportunist way, almost like they’re shopping for which design of mine is going to be the most profitable for them,” Ms Sissons said.

“It’s just that feeling of I’m one individual, I’m one artist, against a huge, huge system.

“I believe it’s a platform built on exploiting those artists and individuals and small businesses.”

Lawyer Richard Mitri told A Current Affair that artists were more or less powerless to stop similar online incidents, with someone in Ms Sissons’ position needing to go to China to attempt to do it.

Mr Mitri noted many artists may not have the money to do this, as big platforms like Temu sell products for “1/100th, if not less of the value of what they’re worth to the person in Australia”.

He said the platforms “know they can keep doing it almost with impunity”.

In a lengthy statement to A Current Affair, Temu said there were “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,” a Temu spokesperson told A Current Affair.

“We also maintain a blacklist to prevent problematic sellers from returning under a different name.”