British singer Dua Lipa has taken legal action against Samsung Electronics, demanding a minimum of $15 million US in compensation. The lawsuit claims that Samsung unlawfully utilized her image to promote their television sets without her authorization. Allegedly, Samsung featured a copyrighted photo of Dua Lipa on the packaging of TV boxes sold in stores, giving the impression of her endorsement of the product.
The image in question, titled “Dua Lipa – Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024,” is owned entirely by Dua Lipa. The lawsuit was filed in a California federal court on Friday. Samsung Electronics declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings, while Dua Lipa’s legal team has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the case.
Apart from copyright and trademark violations, Lipa has accused Samsung of violating her publicity rights. The legal team presented social media screenshots and comments as evidence, suggesting that the presence of Dua Lipa’s image on the TV boxes influenced potential customers to buy the product. One screenshot showed a fan expressing intent to purchase the TV solely because Dua Lipa was featured on it.
Dua Lipa allegedly first discovered Samsung’s unauthorized use of her image in June of the previous year and requested that the company cease its usage. However, Samsung reportedly refused to comply with her demands. The legal representatives argue that Samsung’s unauthorized use of Dua Lipa’s image has harmed her brand identity and commercial reputation by misleading the public into believing she endorsed the products in question.