Samsung used a backstage photo of Dua Lipa for TV advertising without permission – now she’s demanding cash.
Dua Lipa is suing Samsung for $15 million in federal court in California. The musician accuses the electronics company of using her image to sell televisions without consent.
According to court documents filed on May 8, Samsung allegedly used a photo of the singer on the packaging of its TVs. According to the lawsuit, this is a copyrighted image that shows Dua Lipa backstage at the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2024.
“Mockery of her hard work”: Lawyers sharply criticize Samsung
In the lawsuit, the pop star’s lawyers accuse the company of deliberately wanting to profit from the singer’s fame and brand impact. Samsung used their “assets” without any compensation and thereby undermined their control over their own marketing.
It goes on to say that Dua Lipa never volunteered her carefully constructed image to promote television. Despite repeated requests, Samsung did not stop using the photo. The company’s behavior was “dismissive and disrespectful”.
Social media posts should demonstrate advertising effectiveness
To support the claim, the lawsuit refers to posts on platform X. There, users stated that they bought a television because of the singer’s photo. A quoted post reads: “I didn’t really want to buy a TV, but when I saw the packaging I decided to go for it.”
The lawyers see this as evidence that the image of the musician directly contributed to sales promotion.
“Radical Optimism” and worldwide tours
Musically still relevant: Dua Lipa released her record “Radical Optimism” in 2024. The LP continued stylistically with her danceable pop sound and achieved high international chart positions. The singer then completed extensive tours through North America and Europe. At several concerts she brought prominent guests such as Benjamin Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie and Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day on stage to perform together.
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Dua Lipa, now 30, began her career as a teenager doing covers on YouTube. The London-born musician celebrated her breakthrough with the release of her debut album “Dua Lipa,” which produced hits like “New Rules.” Since then she has been one of the most successful pop stars of her generation.
