Dua Lipa Is Suing Samsung Over Her Photo Appearing On TV Boxes
Samsung has landed in a pretty messy celebrity-rights fight, and this one is all about something most of us barely think about: the image printed on a TV box.
British pop star Dua Lipa has filed a lawsuit against Samsung in the US, claiming the company used her picture on packaging for some of its televisions without permission. According to the complaint filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California, the image involved is titled “Dua Lipa – Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024”, and Lipa says she owns the rights to it.
The lawsuit alleges Samsung produced, distributed, marketed, and sold many TVs in the US using cardboard boxes that featured the image. Lipa’s side is framing this not as a small packaging mistake, but as a serious use of her likeness and brand without approval or payment.
Her complaint argues that Samsung’s use of the photo undermined her ability to control and monetise her own image. In other words: if a global electronics giant wants to put a superstar’s face on a product box, the artist wants a say — and probably a cheque.
According to the filing, Lipa became aware of the packaging around June 2025 and quickly demanded that Samsung stop using it. The complaint claims Samsung did not respond in a way she considered acceptable, and that TVs with the image continued to be sold in the US.
Lipa is seeking a jury trial, a permanent injunction stopping Samsung and its affiliates from using the image, and at least US$15 million in damages. The lawsuit also asks for profits Samsung allegedly made from using the image, punitive damages, and legal fees.
One interesting part of the case is how Lipa’s team is trying to show that the photo may have helped sell TVs. The complaint points to screenshots of posts on X, where users allegedly suggested they bought, or considered buying, a TV because Dua Lipa was on the box. That sounds a bit wild, but in marketing, celebrity association memang can be powerful — even when it’s just packaging sitting in a retail aisle.
Samsung has declined to comment on the lawsuit, telling Reuters it cannot discuss pending litigation.
For Malaysian and SEA readers, this case is worth watching because Samsung TVs are everywhere here — from Harvey Norman and Senheng to Shopee, Lazada, and neighbourhood electrical shops. While the lawsuit is US-based and the article specifically discusses US sales, the bigger issue is global: brands love using lifestyle, music, gaming, and celebrity imagery to make tech products feel cooler.
That matters in our region because SEA buyers are extremely brand- and culture-aware. A TV box showing a major pop star, anime collab, esports team, or K-pop idol can absolutely influence attention on a retail shelf. Even if the specs are what close the sale — panel type, refresh rate, price, warranty — the first glance still counts.
For gamers, this is also a reminder that tech marketing is not just about hardware anymore. TVs are pitched as entertainment hubs for Netflix, concerts, PS5, Xbox, Switch, and esports viewing. If a celebrity image helps sell that dream, the rights behind that image become a big deal.
No final ruling has been made, so for now these remain allegations. But if Lipa’s case succeeds, big brands may become more careful about the faces and artwork they place on packaging — especially when that packaging helps move high-value products.
Source: Ars Technica
