British singer Dua Lipa has initiated a legal action against Samsung Electronics, seeking a minimum of $15 million in damages. The lawsuit accuses the South Korean tech corporation of utilizing her image without authorization to promote its television sets.
According to the legal claim, Samsung allegedly showcased a copyrighted picture of the singer on the exterior of cardboard boxes containing TVs for sale, implying her endorsement of the product. The image in question, titled “Dua Lipa – Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024,” is owned by Lipa, as per the lawsuit filed in a California federal court on Friday.
While a representative for Samsung Electronics refrained from commenting due to the ongoing litigation, Dua Lipa’s legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the case.
In addition to allegations of copyright and trademark violations, Lipa has accused Samsung Electronics of violating her publicity rights. Attaching screenshots of social media interactions to the filing, her lawyers claimed that the singer’s image on the TV boxes influenced potential customers to make purchases. One screenshot displayed a fan stating their intention to purchase the TV simply because Dua was featured on it.
The “Levitating” artist reportedly discovered Samsung’s alleged infringement in June last year and requested the company to cease using her image, which the electronics giant purportedly declined to do, as per Lipa’s legal representatives.
The unauthorized use of Dua Lipa’s image by Samsung has purportedly led to the dilution of her brand identity and commercial reputation by falsely suggesting her approval and endorsement of the products in question, the legal team added.
