Samsung is having a rough week. First, Charli tossed one of their beloved TVs out the window in her "Rock Music" video, and now Dua Lipa is suing them for $15 million. (Foreshadowing?) In the complaint, which was filed on Friday May 8, Lipa alleges that the electronics company committed "copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and violation of her right of publicity" with its use of "her valuable image and likeness by Samsung on cardboard television boxes."
The original image was taken backstage at the Austin City Limits Festival in 2024 before Lipa performed. The complaint also asserts that Lipa is the owner of the image that was used and manipulated for packaging on Samsung TVs. Samsung has also refused Lipa's cease and desist attempts.
"Samsung’s response has been dismissive and callous, and the Infringing Products remain on the market to this day, still being sold throughout the country in ongoing acts of willful infringement," the filing reads. "Samsung’s infringing conduct — using Ms. Lipa’s assets for zero consideration — makes a mockery of her hard work in establishing a successful brand and has deprived her of the ability to control and monetize her assets."
Screenshots of social media posts are cited as evidence that her likeness and image are a main enticement for people to buy these TVs based on her photo on the cardboard box. "The dua lip tv box," one tweet says with an image of a newly purchased item. The person who made the post commented underneath the image: "I wasn’t even planning on buying a tv but I saw the box so I decided to get it."
Dua Lipa's image is powerful and not to be messed with. Samsung is probably gonna need some radical optimism to survive this mess.
