- Dua Lipa sues Samsung.
- She seeks substantial damages.
- Samsung says it acted through a partner.
- The case could still see legal developments.
Pop star Dua Lipa has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Samsung, alleging that the company used her image without obtaining her consent.
Shoot ton scoop
As-tu vu quelque chose? Discrétion assurée.
According to a complaint filed on Thursday, May 8, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California and obtained by PEOPLE, the singer accuses Samsung of reproducing a backstage photo of her, protected by copyright, on TV packaging distributed across the United States.
“The face of Ms. Lipa was used in a blatant mass-marketing campaign for a consumer product, without her knowledge, consent, or any right of review, control, or influence,” the complaint states. “Ms. Lipa did not authorize—and would never authorize—this usage.”
The complaint also argues that the use of her image falsely implies that Dua Lipa endorses the product or has some connection to it, which could have influenced consumers to buy the television because the singer appeared on the packaging.
According to court documents, the photo at the center of the dispute is entitled “Dua Lipa – Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024” and is officially registered with the United States Copyright Office.
The artist is seeking a minimum of $15 million in damages, in addition to the profits generated by sales of the televisions bearing the image.
A Protracted Legal Saga
According to the complaint, this saga has been dragging on since June 2025. Indeed, the singer had noticed the infringement of her image rights, and her representatives had subsequently sent cease-and-desist notices to Samsung. Despite these warnings, the company continued to use the image.
“Samsung’s response has been dismissive and insensitive,” the complaint asserts, adding that the products “are still on the market to this day.”
The singer’s attorneys contend that Samsung knowingly leveraged Dua Lipa’s celebrity and fame to promote the sale of its televisions.
There are also testimonies from fans who bought the product because they saw the singer on the box.
“I hadn’t planned to buy a TV, but I saw the box and I caved,” one message quoted in the complaint reads. “I’ve always said that if you want to sell something, you just put a photo of Dua Lipa on it,” another testimony states.
Samsung’s Response
On Monday, May 11, a Samsung spokesperson spoke on the matter in a statement provided to PEOPLE.
“Ms. Lipa’s image was used in 2025 to illustrate content from our third-party partners available on Samsung TVs. It was originally supplied by a content partner for our free streaming service Samsung TV Plus,” the spokesperson said.
“The image was used only after receiving formal assurances from the content partner that the necessary permissions had been obtained, including for product packaging sold in stores. In light of these assurances, we dispute any claim of intentional misuse. (…) Samsung has great respect for Ms. Lipa and for the intellectual property of all artists. We have actively sought and remain open to a constructive resolution with Ms. Lipa’s team,” the statement continued.
The case could still evolve in the coming months, as both sides appear steadfast in their positions and any potential negotiations or legal developments could clarify the path forward.
