British pop star Dua Lipa has filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, seeking at least $15 million in damages. She accused the South Korean electronics company of using her image without permission to market television sets.
The lawsuit was filed on Friday (8) in a federal court in California.
According to the complaint, Samsung used a copyrighted image of Dua Lipa on the front of cardboard television boxes sold in stores. The lawsuit claims the image made it appear that the singer endorsed the company’s products.
The image mentioned in the lawsuit is called “Dua Lipa - Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024.” The filing says Dua Lipa owns all rights, title, and interest connected to the image.
The lawsuit claims Samsung benefited commercially by using the image because customers may have believed the singer supported or approved the televisions.
A spokesperson for Samsung Electronics declined to comment on the case.
The spokesperson said the company could not comment on pending litigation.
Lawyers representing Dua Lipa also did not immediately respond to requests for comment after the lawsuit became public.
Besides copyright infringement, the singer accused Samsung of trademark infringement and violating publicity rights.
The lawsuit says Samsung’s alleged actions harmed Dua Lipa’s public image and commercial reputation.
According to the filing, the company’s use of her image falsely suggested that she endorsed Samsung televisions.
The lawsuit says Samsung’s alleged unauthorized use of the image has “caused and continues to cause dilution” of Dua Lipa’s “brand identity and commercial goodwill by falsely conveying to the consuming public that she approves of and endorses” the products.
Dua Lipa’s lawyers included screenshots of social media posts and comments as part of the lawsuit.
The screenshots were used to show that customers connected the singer with the televisions after seeing her image on the boxes.
One screenshot included a fan comment saying they would buy the television “just because Dua is on it."
The lawsuit says Dua Lipa first became aware of the alleged infringement in June last year.
According to her lawyers, she demanded that Samsung stop using her image after discovering it.
However, the filing claims the company repeatedly refused to stop.
Dua Lipa is one of the biggest pop stars in the world and is known for songs including “Levitating.”
The lawsuit focuses on whether Samsung had permission to use the image and whether customers were misled into believing she supported the products.
The case could now move through the federal court system in California unless the two sides reach a settlement outside court.
At this stage, Samsung has not publicly responded to the specific claims made in the lawsuit.
The court filing seeks financial damages of at least $15 million from Samsung Electronics.
The lawsuit also asks the court to address the alleged misuse of the singer’s image and related rights.
Reuters reported that the case centers on claims involving copyright, trademark infringement, and publicity rights connected to the image used on Samsung television packaging.
