Credit: Scharon Harding

About a year ago, I was in my parents’ living room, where a new TV sat in its box, waiting to be set up. My sister-in-law pointed to a woman on the packaging and said, “Oh, that’s Dua Lipa!” I barely know who she is, so I didn’t think it was unusual for the singer to be featured on the box. But at least one person thinks it’s a big deal: Lipa herself.

On Friday, Lipa filed a lawsuit against Samsung for using her image on some of its TV boxes, alleging that its use constitutes copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and a violation of her right of publicity. The complaint (PDF), filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California, says that Lipa owns all “rights, title, and interest in the image titled ‘Dua Lipa – Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024.’”

“Samsung mass-manufactured, distributed (or caused to be distributed) marketed, and sold in interstate commerce across the United States a vast number of its televisions in various sizes in these cardboard boxes containing the [image],” the lawsuit says.

“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,” the complaint reads.

The filing says Lipa learned about the boxes around June 2025 “and immediately demanded that Samsung cease and desist.” However, Samsung was “dismissive and callous, and the Infringing Products remain on the market to this day, still being sold throughout” the US, the filing says. Lipa would not have allowed the image to be used on Samsung TV boxes, the complaint says, adding:

On information and belief, a significant portion of the televisions sold by Samsung in the United States in 2025 and to date bear the… Image on their boxes, the use of which has contributed in no insignificant way to the enormous revenue generated for Samsung by the sales of these televisions.

Lipa’s complaint points to apparent screenshots of X posts as evidence that her image helped Samsung sell TVs. One comment, according to the complaint, says, “I wasn’t even planning on buying a tv but I saw the box so I decided to get it[.]” Another X user reportedly said, “get that tv just because Dua is on it.”

Samsung has declined to comment on the lawsuit, telling Reuters that it can not comment on pending litigation.

Lipa is seeking a jury trial and a permanent injunction preventing Samsung and its affiliates from using the image, including displaying it. The British singer also seeks at least $15 million in damages for copyright and trademark infringement and the “misappropriation” of her likeness, the profits that Samsung made from using the image, punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees.

As of this writing, some retailers, including Walmart, are selling Samsung TVs with the image.

That box with Lipa’s image is still in my parents’ house, and it could end up costing Samsung a lot of grief.