Dua Lipa has filed a lawsuit against Samsung claiming at least 15 million dollars (12.7 million euros) for using her image “without permission” to promote its televisions. The British artist maintains that the manufacturer included a copyrighted image on the front of boxes containing products intended for retail sale. This would allow the South Korean technology giant to benefit from what appeared to be an endorsement of the brand by the singer, according to the lawsuit filed on Friday in federal court in California (United States).
The image that was allegedly “used on television boxes” is titled “Dua Lipa-Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024” and, according to the lawsuit, the artist owns all rights, title and interest in it. A spokesperson for Samsung Electronics declined to comment, saying they could not comment on pending litigation, while Dua Lipa’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case. In addition to copyright and trademark infringement, the artist accuses Samsung Electronics of violating her image rights.
Lipa’s lawyers attached screenshots of social media posts and comments in the lawsuit, alleging that the singer’s image on the front of the boxes encouraged potential customers to buy the product. One of those screenshots shows a fan commenting that he would buy the TV “just because Dua is on it.”
Dua Lipa (London, 30 years old), who has more than 90 million followers on social networks, became aware of Samsung’s alleged infringement in June last year and demanded that the company stop using her image, but, according to her lawyers, the electronics manufacturer repeatedly refused to do so.
The artist’s lawyers added that the alleged unauthorized use of Dua Lipa’s image by Samsung Electronics “has caused and continues to cause a dilution” of the “brand identity and commercial reputation.” In addition to falsely conveying to the consumer public that the performer of hits like Levitating o New Rules approves and endorses the products in question.