Dua Lipa Sues Samsung for £12m
‘Cardboard Confrontation’: Dua Lipa Sues Samsung for £12m Over ‘Unauthorized’ TV Box Imagery
LOS ANGELES — Pop sensation Dua Lipa has launched a formidable $15 million (£12 million) legal offensive against electronics giant Samsung, accusing the firm of using her image on television packaging globally without her consent.
The lawsuit, filed in a California federal court on Friday 8th May, alleges that a "significant portion" of Samsung’s television sets sold throughout 2025 and 2026 featured a prominent photograph of the Training Season singer on their retail cardboard boxes. The 30-year-old Londoner claims the tech giant engaged in "willful and intentional" commercial exploitation of her likeness to drive sales.
The ‘Austin City Limits’ Dispute
At the heart of the litigation is a specific photograph titled “Dua Lipa – Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024.” According to the legal filing, Lipa owns the full copyright to the image, which was reportedly used as part of a marketing campaign for "Samsung TV Plus" without any formal licensing agreement or payment.
The suit states that Lipa first became aware of the "Dua Lipa TV Box" in June 2025 after fans began posting images of the packaging on social media. Despite her legal team issuing immediate cease-and-desist demands, the filing alleges that Samsung’s response was “dismissive and callous,” and that the infringing products remain on shop shelves to this day.
“Ms. Lipa’s face was used for a mass marketing campaign for a consumer product without her knowledge or consideration,” the complaint reads. “Samsung’s conduct makes a mockery of her hard work in establishing a premium brand.”
‘I Bought It for the Box’
To prove the commercial impact of the alleged infringement, Lipa’s lawyers have included a series of fan testimonials from social media as evidence. The lawsuit argues that the singer’s presence on the packaging created a "false endorsement," misleading consumers into believing she was an official partner of the brand.
Evidence of Consumer Influence
A Highly Selective Brand
The lawsuit emphasises that Lipa is "highly selective" regarding her global partnerships, noting her existing high-profile contracts with Porsche, Apple, Versace, and Saint Laurent. Her team argues that the unauthorised association with Samsung "dilutes" her brand identity and deprives her of the ability to control and monetise her own assets.
Lipa is seeking:
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$15 Million in actual damages and lost licensing fees.
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An Injunction to halt the sale of all products bearing the image.
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Punitive Damages and legal costs.
The Verdict
While Samsung Electronics has yet to issue a formal public response, citing a policy against commenting on pending litigation, the case marks a significant moment for celebrity "right of publicity" in the digital age.
For Lipa, who has successfully fought several copyright battles regarding her hit single Levitating, this latest move signals her refusal to let even the world's largest tech firms "levitate" off her image for free. As the legal battle unfolds, retailers may soon find themselves forced to clear their stock of the world's most famous cardboard boxes.
