Global pop icon Dua Lipa is embroiled in a legal battle with tech giant Samsung, filing a $15 million lawsuit in a California federal court. The issue surrounds the alleged use of a copyrighted photograph of the singer without permission on the retail packaging of Samsung’s television sets. The image, originally shot backstage at the 2024 Austin City Limits Festival, was prominently displayed on cardboard boxes for several TV models, creating a “false impression” of a celebrity endorsement, Lipa’s legal team says in the filing. “Houdini” singer, who owns the copyright to the image, said she noticed the infringement in June 2025 when fans started tagging her in photos of the “Dua Lipa TV Box” on social media.
The lawsuit claims Samsung was “dismissive and callous” when first approached and reportedly refused to remove the packaging even after receiving multiple cease-and-desist notices. Lipa’s lawyers say the tech giant knowingly leveraged her “premium brand” to boost sales, pointing to social media posts from consumers who said they bought the TVs because her face was on the box. The suit claims copyright infringement, trademark infringement and violation of California’s right of publicity laws.
“My professional endorsements are carefully vetted and include only the likes of Porsche, Versace and Apple, and the unauthorized campaign cheapens them,” says Lipa. The singer is sending a clear message to Silicon Valley that celebrity likeness isn’t “free content” for marketing by seeking $15 million in actual damages plus punitive costs. Samsung has not yet filed a formal response, but the case is already being hailed as a landmark moment for artist rights in the digital and physical retail age.
