WASHINGTON — Singer Dua Lipa has filed a lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, seeking at least $15 million in damages over allegations that the company used her image without permission in a marketing campaign for television products, according to a complaint filed in federal court in California on Friday.
The lawsuit alleges that Samsung used Lipa’s likeness on cardboard television packaging as part of a promotional campaign without notifying, compensating, or obtaining approval from the singer. The filing states that the campaign began last year.
“Ms. Lipa’s face was prominently used for a mass marketing campaign for a consumer product without her knowledge,” the complaint states.
The lawsuit claims Samsung created the impression that Lipa endorsed its televisions despite no endorsement or sponsorship agreement between the parties.
According to the complaint, the image used on the packaging was a backstage photograph taken at the 2024 Austin City Limits Festival. The filing states that Lipa owns the copyright to the photograph and did not authorize its use in the campaign.
The complaint also cites social media posts that referenced the packaging and connected Lipa to the product, including posts that referred to it as “the Dua Lipa TV box.”
Lipa’s legal filing alleges violations including copyright infringement, false endorsement under the federal Lanham Act, and infringement of California’s right of publicity law. It also states that Samsung benefited commercially from the alleged use of her image.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.