British pop singer, Dua Lipa, has filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, seeking no less than $15 million in damages over claims that the company used her image without authorization to promote its television products.
According to the lawsuit, Samsung allegedly displayed a copyrighted photograph of the singer on the front of television packaging boxes sold in retail stores, creating the impression that she endorsed the product.
The image in question, identified as “Dua Lipa — Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024,” is said to be fully owned by the singer in terms of rights, title and interest. The case was filed Friday in a federal court in California.
A spokesperson for Samsung Electronics declined to comment on the allegations, citing ongoing litigation. Meanwhile, legal representatives for Dua Lipa did not immediately respond to requests for comments regarding the lawsuit. In addition to claims of copyright and trademark infringement, the singer has also accused the company of violating her publicity rights.
Lawyers representing Dua Lipa attached screenshots of social media posts and online comments to the court filing, arguing that the use of her image on the packaging influenced consumer interest in the televisions. One comment included in the filing showed a fan saying they would buy the television “just because Dua is on it.” The legal team stated that the “Levitating” singer became aware of the alleged infringement in June last year and demanded that Samsung stop using the image, but the company allegedly refused multiple times.
Her lawyers further argued that Samsung’s alleged unauthorized use of the singer’s likeness has “caused and continues to cause dilution” of her “brand identity and commercial goodwill by falsely conveying to the consuming public that she approves of and endorses” the products involved.
