British singer Dua Lipa has taken legal action against Samsung Electronics, demanding a minimum of $15 million in damages. Lipa alleges that Samsung unlawfully utilized her image to promote their TV sets without her consent. The lawsuit claims that Samsung featured a copyrighted image of the singer on the packaging of TV boxes for sale, giving the impression of her endorsement of the product. The image in question is titled “Dua Lipa – Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024,” and Lipa is the rightful owner of all rights to it. The lawsuit was filed in a California federal court on Friday.
Samsung Electronics declined to provide a comment on the ongoing litigation. Lipa’s legal team has not yet responded to requests for comments on the case. Lipa has accused Samsung of not only copyright and trademark infringement but also violating her publicity rights.
Lipa’s lawyers submitted social media screenshots and comments as evidence, asserting that the presence of Lipa’s image on the TV boxes influenced potential customers’ purchasing decisions. One fan comment cited in the filing indicated a willingness to buy the TV simply because “Dua is on it.” Lipa first discovered Samsung’s alleged misuse of her image in June of last year and requested that they cease using it. Despite her demands, Samsung reportedly refused to comply.
The unauthorized use of Dua Lipa’s image by Samsung has resulted in a negative impact on the singer’s brand identity and commercial reputation, as it falsely suggests her endorsement of the products. This misuse has caused and continues to cause harm to Lipa’s public image and commercial standing.
