Pop superstar Dua Lipa has initiated a significant $15 million lawsuit against tech giant Samsung Electronics. The complaint alleges Samsung utilized her image on its television product packaging without obtaining proper authorization or offering compensation.
According to reports by Variety, which cited a complaint filed Friday in the US District Court for the Central District of California, Samsung reportedly began featuring Lipa’s likeness on cardboard TV packaging as early as last year. This usage was part of a broad mass-market marketing campaign for their consumer electronics.
Central to the lawsuit’s claims is the assertion that the image was deployed without Dua Lipa’s explicit knowledge or consent, thereby creating a misleading impression of her endorsement for Samsung’s products.
The official complaint highlights the severity of the alleged infringement, stating: “Ms. Lipa’s face was prominently used for a mass marketing campaign for a consumer product without her knowledge, without consideration, and as to which she had no say, control, or input whatsoever.”
Further details from the filing reveal that the disputed image was captured backstage during the 2024 Austin City Limits Festival. Crucially, the filing asserts that Lipa herself retains ownership of this particular image.
The legal action further claims that Samsung allegedly disregarded requests to cease using the image. The lawsuit contends that the company unfairly profited from the perceived celebrity endorsement, despite the complete absence of any formal partnership or agreement between the tech giant and the acclaimed artist.
The comprehensive complaint brings forward multiple serious allegations, including charges of copyright infringement, trademark infringement, violation of California’s publicity rights law, and breaches of the federal Lanham Act.
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