Samsung is asking a court to dismiss a $15 million lawsuit filed by Dua Lipa, who alleges that the company used her image without permission in connection with its television products.
The dispute centers on a photograph of the 31-year-old singer taken backstage at the 2024 Austin City Limits Music Festival. Lipa’s legal team claims she never authorized the use of the image for Samsung’s commercial purposes.
Samsung has denied the allegations and argues that Lipa has no valid basis for the lawsuit because there is nothing in the material suggesting that she personally endorsed or promoted the company’s televisions.
In its legal response, Samsung reportedly said the images were intended to display the television interface and highlight the applications available through its products.
The packaging at the center of the dispute features a photo of Lipa connected to Samsung TV Plus, where she appears in promotional material for the Xite Hits channel. The photograph was reportedly taken behind the scenes at the Austin City Limits festival in 2024.
Lipa’s lawyers argue that the singer holds the rights to the photograph and claim Samsung has repeatedly refused to remove it despite being asked to do so.
Samsung, however, maintains that the image was originally supplied by a content partner. The company says it used the photograph only after being assured by that partner that all necessary rights and permissions had been obtained.
The case is now heading into a legal battle over whether Samsung improperly used Lipa’s likeness and whether the singer is entitled to the damages she is seeking.
