Dua Lipa Sues Samsung for $15M Over Unauthorized Image Use

Pop star Dua Lipa has filed a $15 million federal lawsuit against Samsung, BBC Business reported Monday. Her legal team alleges the electronics giant used her photograph on television packaging sold in the United States without obtaining her consent.

A Photo From a Festival Stage to a TV Box

The complaint, lodged in the US District Court for the Central District of California, centers on a photograph taken during Lipa’s 2024 Austin City Limits Festival performance. Lipa’s team asserts she holds the copyright to that image. The filing claims Samsung’s use of her likeness was designed to exploit her public profile to drive product sales. Social media users had already noticed, with some posts calling it the “Dua Lipa TV Box.” One fan comment cited in the filing said they would buy the television solely because Lipa appeared on the box.

Samsung Shifts Blame to a Content Partner

Samsung pushed back firmly against the allegations. The company told BBC Business the photograph originated with a third-party content partner for its free streaming platform, Samsung TV Plus. Samsung said the image was cleared for retail packaging use only after the partner provided explicit assurances that all necessary permissions were in place. The tech giant said it denies any intentional misuse and remains open to a constructive resolution with Lipa’s representatives.

Background on Lipa’s Commercial Portfolio

Lipa is among the most commercially active artists in pop music. Her brand partnerships span Puma, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent, Porsche, and Chanel. She more recently became a global ambassador for Nespresso. The court filing references those relationships directly, underlining the commercial value attached to her image. Her latest album, Radical Optimism, arrived in 2024. This is not her first intellectual property dispute. Lipa previously prevailed in a separate copyright case involving her song Levitating.

Three Legal Theories in One Filing

The California complaint layers three distinct legal claims against Samsung. Lipa’s team alleges copyright infringement over the photograph itself, trademark infringement tied to her public identity, and misappropriation of her likeness without compensation. According to BBC Business, Samsung had received repeated cease-and-desist demands before the suit was filed but did not act to Lipa’s satisfaction. The case will test how liability flows when a major brand relies on third-party content assurances rather than securing rights directly from the talent involved.

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