Dua Lipa Sues Samsung for $15 Million Over Unauthorized Image Use
Pop sensation Dua Lipa has initiated legal action against Samsung, seeking $15 million in damages. The complaint, filed in a California district court, alleges that the electronics manufacturer engaged in unauthorized commercial exploitation of the singer’s image and likeness on cardboard television packaging.
According to the legal filing obtained by Rolling Stone, the dispute centers on a photograph of the singer taken backstage at the 2024 Austin City Limits Festival. The lawsuit asserts that Samsung utilized this image to promote its “Samsung TV Plus” service, specifically highlighting the Xite Hits channel, without securing the necessary licenses or permissions from the artist.
Allegations of Infringement
The complaint outlines several counts, including copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and a violation of the singer’s right of publicity. The legal team representing Lipa argues that Samsung’s actions were a deliberate attempt to capitalize on her global notoriety and goodwill to drive sales of their television sets.
“Ms. Lipa brings this action against Samsung for copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and violation of her right of publicity in order to obtain redress for the massive, continuing, unauthorized commercial exploitation of her valuable image and likeness by Samsung on cardboard television boxes,” the lawsuit states.
The document further notes that while Lipa has maintained high-profile partnerships with luxury brands such as Chanel, Tiffany & Co., and Apple, she never entered into any promotional agreement with Samsung. The unauthorized use of her image reportedly came to the singer’s attention in June 2025, when fans began sharing images of the packaging on social media, with some users suggesting they were inclined to purchase the television specifically because of her presence on the box.
A Call for Accountability
The lawsuit characterizes Samsung’s response to initial concerns as “dismissive and callous.” Lipa’s representatives claim that the company ignored repeated cease-and-desist demands, demonstrating a “conscious disregard” for her intellectual property rights.
“Samsung’s arrogance in refusing to stop its infringement confirms its conscious disregard of Ms. Lipa’s intellectual property and personal identity rights, intent on monetizing its products for its own benefit by capitalizing on the implied (false) association with Ms. Lipa as a sponsor of Samsung’s mass-marketed television sets,” the complaint alleges.
The singer is seeking damages of no less than $15 million, citing the willful nature of the infringement and the unauthorized use of her likeness to promote consumer electronics.
