Samsung made a “mockery” of Dua Lipa by putting her picture on TV boxes, lawsuit says
About a year ago, I was in my parents’ living room, where a new television sat in its case, waiting to be installed. My sister-in-law pointed to a woman on the packaging and said, “Oh, that’s Dua Lipa!” I barely know who she is, so I didn’t find it unusual that the singer was on the box. But at least one person thinks it’s a big deal: Lipa herself.
On Friday, Lipa filed a lawsuit against Samsung for using her image on some of its televisions, alleging that her use constituted copyright infringement, trademark infringement and a violation of her right of publicity. The complaint (PDF), filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, states that Lipa owns all “right, title and interest in the image titled ‘Dua Lipa – Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024.’
“Samsung manufactured, distributed (or caused to be distributed) mass marketed and sold in interstate commerce throughout the United States many of its televisions of various sizes in these cardboard boxes containing the [image]“, the lawsuit states.
“Samsung’s illicit conduct – the use of Ms. Lipa’s assets without any consideration – made a mockery of her hard work to establish a successful brand and deprived her of the ability to control and monetize her assets,” the complaint states.
The filing says Lipa became aware of the boxes around June 2025 “and immediately demanded that Samsung cease and desist.” However, Samsung was “dismissive and unresponsive, and the counterfeit products remain on the market to this day, still sold everywhere” in the United States, the filing said. Lipa allegedly did not authorize the use of the image on Samsung televisions, the complaint states, adding:
