Dua Lipa Files $15M Lawsuit Against Samsung Over Unauthorized Image Use

BBC Business reported Tuesday that pop star Dua Lipa has filed a $15 million lawsuit against Samsung. The complaint alleges the electronics giant placed her image on television product packaging across the United States without her knowledge or consent.

A Festival Photo at the Center of the Case

The photograph at the heart of the Dua Lipa Samsung lawsuit was reportedly taken during the singer’s 2024 performance at Austin City Limits Festival. Lipa’s legal team contends she holds the copyright to that image. The suit was filed Friday in the US District Court for the Central District of California and includes claims of copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and misappropriation of her likeness.

According to the filing, Samsung’s packaging was crafted to exploit Lipa’s public profile and drive product sales. Samsung declined to comment, citing pending litigation.

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Fans Noticed Before Lawyers Did

Lipa reportedly first discovered the unauthorized use of her image in June 2025, roughly a year after the festival performance. By that point, fans had already begun circulating the packaging on social media, dubbing it the “Dua Lipa TV Box.” The lawsuit references specific Instagram comments. One user wrote they would purchase the television solely because of her image. Another suggested she could sell anything by simply appearing on it.

The filing claims Samsung continued using the image despite receiving repeated cease-and-desist demands from Lipa’s representatives.

A Star With Carefully Managed Brand Partnerships

The lawsuit arrives in the context of Lipa’s extensive and deliberate commercial portfolio. Her legal team highlighted existing brand relationships with Puma, Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent. She has also worked with Apple, Porsche, and Chanel, and recently became a global ambassador for Nespresso. The implied argument is clear. Lipa commands significant fees for authorized partnerships. Unauthorized use directly undermines that market.

Her most recent studio album, “Radical Optimism,” was released in 2024. The singer turned 30 this year and remains one of the most commercially recognizable figures in popular music.

Samsung has not publicly addressed the specific allegations beyond its blanket no-comment on the litigation.

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