Dua Lipa sues Samsung over unauthorized use of her image, seeks $15M

British pop singer Dua Lipa has filed a lawsuit against Samsung, accusing the tech giant of using her image without authorization to promote its televisions. The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court, seeks at least 15 million dollars in damages.

According to legal documents, Samsung included a copyrighted photo of Lipa on the front of its TV boxes, which allegedly allowed the company to benefit from her association without her consent.

The image in question is titled “Dua Lipa - Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024,” and the singer states she owns all rights to it. The lawsuit also claims Samsung violated her image rights and trademark.

The image on the TV boxes appears to endorse the product, falsely suggesting Dua Lipa supports it, harming her reputation and brand.

Since discovering the infringement last June, Dua Lipa demanded Samsung cease using her image, but the company refused. She argues this causes damage to her identity and prestige by falsely implying her approval of the products.

Samsung has not publicly commented on the case, and its lawyers did not respond to requests for statements. The lawsuit includes social media screenshots showing how her image on the boxes influences consumer purchasing decisions.

The singer’s legal team claims that the unauthorized use has caused brand dilution and economic harm, violating her image rights. She became aware of the infringement last June and asked Samsung to stop using her photo, but they repeatedly refused.

This case highlights the importance of protecting image rights and intellectual property in the digital age, especially when large companies use celebrity images without permission for marketing.

The dispute is expected to continue in court, and the outcome could set a precedent for respecting celebrity rights in advertising campaigns.