Pop star Dua Lipa has filed a high-profile lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, accusing the tech giant of using her image without permission on its television packaging in the United States a move that has triggered a major legal and industry controversy.
According to court filings in the U.S. District Court for Central California, Lipa’s legal team is seeking over $15 million in damages, alleging violations of copyright, trademark, and publicity rights.
The complaint claims that a backstage photo taken at a 2024 music festival in Austin was used on Samsung TV packaging without her consent.
Samsung however has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “intentional misuse” claims. The company stated that the image was used in 2025 as part of content provided by a third-party partner for its Samsung TV Plus streaming service.
Samsung further clarified that the image was only used after receiving “explicit assurance” from the content partner that all necessary permissions had been secured, including for retail packaging use. The company emphasized that it holds “great respect” for Dua Lipa and intellectual property rights of artists.
In its statement, Samsung added that it has already taken steps to address the issue, including suspending the disputed packaging, replacing it with an updated version, and engaging in mediation efforts. The company also said it remains open to a “constructive resolution” with Lipa’s team.
The dispute first surfaced after Lipa’s representatives raised concerns in July 2025, eventually escalating into legal action after negotiations reportedly failed to resolve the matter.
The case has now drawn widespread attention, highlighting growing tensions between global celebrities and major tech companies over image rights and digital content usage in the streaming and advertising industry.
