Dua Lipa has filed a federal lawsuit seeking at least $15 million, saying Samsung Electronics used a copyrighted photograph of her on the cardboard packaging of its televisions and thereby created the false impression she endorsed the products. The complaint, filed in the Central District of California, says the image appeared on the front of TV boxes beginning last year and was used in retail packaging distributed across the United States. The suit alleges the photograph, titled "Dua Lipa - Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024," was printed without permission and that Samsung refused Lipa's demands to stop after she learned of the packaging in June 2025. This case now awaits Samsung's formal response in federal court.

Dua Lipa's complaint paints a straightforward claim. The singer alleges Samsung printed a specific photograph on the front of cardboard boxes for its televisions, then distributed those packaged products for sale in the United States. The image is identified in the filing as "Dua Lipa - Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024." The complaint says Lipa owns the copyright in that photograph and that Samsung used it without permission or payment.

What the lawsuit says

The filing brings several legal theories at once. It alleges willful copyright infringement, a violation of California's right of publicity statute, federal Lanham Act claims for false endorsement, and trademark claims. Lipa is asking the court for a permanent injunction to stop Samsung from using the image, "no less than $15 million" in actual damages, punitive damages, and legal costs.

According to the complaint, Lipa first became aware of the packaging in June 2025. She immediately demanded Samsung stop using the photograph, the suit says. The filing alleges Samsung was "dismissive and callous" and repeatedly refused to cease the use. The complaint further claims Samsung continued to distribute and sell televisions with the packaging in place, which Lipa says has diluted her commercial goodwill by falsely conveying her approval of the products.

The suit includes social media screenshots the filing says show consumers were influenced by the packaging. The complaint reproduces example comments the plaintiff says show people were moved to buy or consider a Samsung TV because of the image on the box. One comment quoted in the filing says a person bought a TV after seeing the box. Another reads, "I'll get that TV just because Dua Lipa is on it." Those samples are used to support the false endorsement and Lanham Act claims.

Scope, context and company response

One source quoted the filing as saying the image was used on "a big portion" of the televisions Samsung sold in the US last year.

Mastheads

That specific scope claim appears in a single account cited in the complaint, while other parts of the filing describe the packaging as being widely distributed in retail channels across the United States.

To bolster the argument that the packaging harmed Lipa's commercial image, the complaint lists her existing brand relationships and commercial work. The filing says she is selective about endorsements and cites prior partnerships with fashion and luxury brands to show the premium nature of her commercial image. The suit argues Samsung's alleged conduct deprived Lipa of control over monetising her likeness and unfairly benefited the company.

Multiple outlets reported Samsung didn't immediately respond to requests for comment, and one account said the company declined to comment because the matter is pending litigation. The brief accounts used in the complaint echo the same basic language from the filing. There are no substantive contradictions among them, though that "significant portion" wording is noted only in one source.

The complaint is now pending in the Central District of California. The next procedural step in the case will be Samsung's formal response to the complaint, which the filings and news reports don't yet record.

Beyond the legal claims, the complaint frames the issue as one of control. Celebrity image rights depend on selective licensing and careful brand placement, the filing says. Lipa's lawyers argue that unlicensed use of a photograph on mass-market retail packaging strips her of the ability to negotiate terms, set pricing, and preserve the premium associations she has built through past partnerships.

The complaint seeks both injunctive relief and monetary compensation. A permanent injunction would require Samsung to stop using the photograph on packaging.

The monetary request begins at $15 million, and the suit also seeks punitive damages and recovery of legal fees. Those demands reflect the combination of copyright, publicity and false endorsement claims the complaint asserts.

For now, the dispute is confined to filings and the public record in federal court. The complaint supplies the photograph's title, sample social media reactions, and a catalogue of Lipa's prior commercial relationships. Samsung's side of the story hasn't yet appeared in court documents or in a company statement cited in media accounts.

Related Articles

The case is pending in the Central District of California, and the immediate next step listed in the complaint is Samsung's formal response to the lawsuit.

This article was created with AI assistance.