Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for $15 million, accusing the electronics giant of plastering her face on television packaging without her knowledge or consent, according to a complaint filed Friday in the Central District of California.
The multi-Grammy winner alleges that Samsung used a photo she owns the copyright to, taken backstage at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2024, and displayed it on the packaging for various Samsung TVs starting in 2025. The complaint, reported by The Hollywood Reporter, charges the company with copyright infringement, trademark infringement and violation of her right of publicity.
The suit describes the unauthorized use in direct terms. "Recognizing Ms. Lipa's notoriety and goodwill, Samsung used a copyrighted image of Ms. Lipa without authority or license and prominently featured it on the front of cardboard boxes containing Samsung manufactured televisions for retail sale," the complaint states.
Lipa alleges that Samsung has continued to profit from her image even after she demanded they stop, and that the company's response was "dismissive and callous." The complaint also argues Samsung falsely suggested to consumers that Lipa endorsed the product, a claim backed up in the suit by comments posted on X and Instagram.
"I wasn't even planning on buying a tv but I saw the box so I decided to get it," read one comment cited in the complaint. The suit also notes that another fan posted they would "get that tv just because Dua is on it."
The complaint is unambiguous about the scope of the alleged wrong. "Ms. Lipa's face was prominently used for a mass marketing campaign for a consumer product without her knowledge, without consideration, and as to which she had no say, control, or input whatsoever. Ms. Lipa did not allow and would not have allowed this use," the suit states.
The Hollywood Reporter reached out to Samsung for comment but did not hear back at the time of publication.
