Copyright Clash: Dua Lipa Files $15M Lawsuit Over Unauthorized Samsung Ad Use
Pop star Dua Lipa has filed a USD 15 million (one and a half crore) compensation lawsuit against global electronics giant Samsung, alleging that the company used her image in television advertisements without permission or payment. The case was filed on Friday in a federal court in California, United States.
According to the complaint, Samsung used an image of Dua Lipa on the cardboard packaging or box of its “Crystal UHD” televisions. The photo was taken backstage at the Austin City Limits festival in 2024. Dua Lipa claims that she holds the copyright to the image and that Samsung has no legal right to use it commercially.
The British singer stated that she first became aware of the matter in June 2025. Since then, her legal team has repeatedly requested Samsung to stop using the image, but the company allegedly ignored those requests. The lawsuit describes Samsung’s conduct as “indifferent and rigid.” It further claims that televisions featuring the disputed packaging are still being sold in the market.
According to Dua Lipa’s lawyers, the presence of her image on the TV packaging has led ordinary consumers to believe that it represents an official endorsement or promotion by the artist. The lawsuit includes several posts from the social media platform X as evidence. These posts indicate that some fans chose to purchase Samsung TVs over other brands after seeing her image. One fan wrote, “I wasn’t even planning to buy a TV, but I bought it after seeing Dua Lipa’s picture on the box.”
Dua Lipa has brought allegations of copyright and trademark infringement, as well as violation of publicity rights. In addition to seeking USD 15 million in damages, she has also demanded a share of the profits earned through the use of her image. Samsung has not yet issued any official comment on the matter.
It is noteworthy that previously, the Attorney General of Texas had filed a lawsuit against Samsung over allegations of consumer surveillance. The latest case by the pop icon presents a new legal challenge for the company.
DBTech/BMT/OR
