British pop star Dua Lipa has filed a $15 million lawsuit against Samsung, alleging the electronics giant used her image on television packaging without her consent or compensation.
According to the complaint, filed on Friday in the US District Court for the Central District of California, Samsung allegedly used the singer’s likeness on cardboard television boxes as part of a large-scale marketing campaign launched last year.
The lawsuit claims Lipa later discovered the packaging and requested the company to stop using her image, but Samsung allegedly refused.
The filing described the company’s response as “dismissive and callous”.
“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,” the complaint stated.
“Ms. Lipa did not allow and would not have allowed this use.”
The suit further alleged that Samsung benefited commercially by creating the impression that the singer had endorsed its televisions despite no endorsement agreement existing between the two parties.
According to the complaint, Lipa owns the copyright to the image at the centre of the dispute, which was reportedly taken backstage at the Austin City Limits Festival in 2024.
The filing also cited several online comments from users who suggested the packaging influenced their purchasing decisions.
One user reportedly wrote: “I wasn’t even planning on buying a TV but I saw the box so I decided to get it.”
Another commented: “I’d get that TV just because Dua Lipa is on it.”
The lawsuit includes allegations of copyright infringement, trademark violations, breach of California’s right of publicity law and violations of the federal Lanham Act.
Source: The Express Tribune
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
