Dua Lipa is not going easy on the appliance brand Samsung for allegedly using her likeness without consent. The singer-actor filed a $15 million lawsuit against the electronics manufacturer for using her image to sell TVs without paying her or obtaining her permission.
The complaint was filed on Friday and states that Samsung used Lipa’s image on the cardboard packaging of its TV last year. As soon as the singer became aware of the issue, she demanded that the company stop using her image. However, the company allegedly refused her request. The complaint describes the company’s response as “dismissive and callous.”
According to the complaint, the company used her image for mass marketing without Lipa’s knowledge or consent. “Ms. Lipa did not allow and would not have allowed this use,” the lawsuit states.
Suit Alleges Samsung Made a Profit
According to the suit, Samsung profited from the use of her image, implying that Lipa had endorsed the product, which is not the case. The complaint also claims that Dua Lipa owns the copyright to the image, which was taken backstage at the Austin City Limits Festival in 2024.
The lawsuit also includes comments from X (formerly known as Twitter), claiming that some customers purchased Samsung TVs due to the perceived endorsement.
One commenter quoted in the complaint wrote, “I wasn’t even planning on buying a TV, but I saw the box, so I decided to get it.”
Another buyer shared her experience, as cited in the suit: “I’d get that TV just because Dua Lipa is on it. That’s how obsessed I am. That’s how much I love her.”
According to the suit, Dua Lipa has built a premium brand over the years and is highly selective when it comes to product endorsements.
The lawsuit alleges copyright infringement, along with violations of the California right of publicity statute, the federal Lanham Act, and trademark law. The case was filed in the Central District of California.
How Did Samsung Respond?
The lawsuit is now before the Central District of California, where the court will examine the claims. Samsung has not yet issued an official response to the allegations.
