Dua Lipa Sues Samsung for $15m Over TV Box Image Use

Pop star Dua Lipa has filed a $15m lawsuit against Samsung after her image was allegedly used on television packaging without permission. The legal action was filed in California, where claims of copyright infringement and unauthorized commercial use of her likeness were made against the technology company.

According to court documents filed at the US District Court for the Central District of California, an image of Dua Lipa was reportedly placed on Samsung television boxes sold in the United States. It was alleged that the packaging had been designed in a way that benefitted from the singer’s public image and commercial success.

The photograph at the center of the dispute was said to have been taken during her performance at the 2024 Austin City Limits Festival. Ownership of the image was claimed by the singer in the filing. It was also stated that the use of the image had not been approved by her or her representatives before it appeared on retail packaging.

Legal Claims and Samsung’s Response

The lawsuit included allegations of copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and the unauthorized use of Dua Lipa’s likeness. It was claimed that repeated demands had been made for the image to be removed, but those requests were allegedly ignored.

Attention was drawn to social media reactions in the filing, where Samsung’s television packaging had reportedly become widely recognised online as the “Dua Lipa TV Box.” Comments shared online were referenced in the complaint, including posts suggesting that televisions were being purchased because of the singer’s appearance on the packaging.

A response was later issued by Samsung, where the allegations were denied. The company stated that the image had been supplied by a third-party content partner connected to Samsung TV Plus, its streaming service.

Assurance had reportedly been given to Samsung that all necessary permissions for the image had already been secured before the packaging was distributed.

It was further stated by the company that the image had been used to represent content available through its television platform and that no intentional misuse had taken place. Respect for artists and intellectual property rights was also expressed in Samsung’s statement, alongside an indication that discussions toward a resolution remained open.

Over the years, Dua Lipa has been associated with several major global brands through endorsement and ambassadorial partnerships. Collaborations have previously been carried out with companies including Puma, Versace, Chanel, and Apple. Most recently, she was announced as a global ambassador for Nespresso.

The singer’s latest album, Radical Optimism, was released in 2024 and further strengthened her global commercial profile. Legal observers have noted that the outcome of the case could influence future disputes involving celebrity likeness rights and advertising permissions in the entertainment and technology industries.