DUA LIPA has launched a legal battle against Samsung, demanding £11 million after the tech giant allegedly plastered her face on TV packaging without permission.
The pop star’s image appeared on the front of Samsung’s Crystal 43-inch ultra-high-definition TV boxes to promote the XITE Hits music channel.
According to court documents, the photo was taken backstage at a 2024 festival and Dua Lipa holds the copyright.
Her lawyers say the image appeared on a “significant portion” of the TVs sold in the US, misleading fans into thinking she endorsed the product.
One fan posted online: “I wasn’t even planning on buying a TV, but I saw the box so I decided to get it.”
Another Instagram user from Miami admitted, “I’d get that TV just because Dua is on it. That’s how obsessed I am.”
Dua’s lawyer Christine Lepera stated, “Samsung used a copyrighted image of Ms. Lipa without authority or licence and prominently featured it on the front of boxes containing Samsung-manufactured televisions for retail sale.”
She added the sales revenue is tied to a “false message” that Dua Lipa endorsed the TVs, which she did not.
The singer, 30, is highly selective with her commercial deals and would not have approved this usage.
Dua Lipa is a global superstar with multiple Grammy wins and lucrative partnerships including Nespresso, Yves Saint-Laurent, Porsche, and Puma.
Samsung has yet to file a response to the lawsuit filed in California’s Central District Federal Court.
The case could see a jury award even more than the $15 million (£11 million) Dua is seeking.
The legal showdown highlights the importance of celebrity image rights in advertising and the risks companies face when ignoring them.