Samsung responds after Dua Lipa accuses company of misusing her image on TV packaging

Seoul: Samsung Electronics on Tuesday rejected allegations made by British pop star Dua Lipa that the company used her image on television packaging without permission, saying the photograph had been supplied through an authorised content partner.

The dispute comes after Lipa’s legal representatives filed a lawsuit last week in the US District Court for Central California seeking damages exceeding $15 million. The complaint accuses Samsung of infringing copyright, trademark and publicity rights laws.

Responding to the allegations, Samsung denied claims that it had intentionally misused the singer’s image.

According to a statement issued by the company, the photograph was used in 2025 as part of promotional material connected to third-party content available on Samsung televisions through its free streaming platform, Samsung TV Plus.

“Ms. Lipa’s image was used in 2025 to reflect the content of our third-party partners that is available on Samsung TVs and was originally provided by a content partner for our free streaming service, Samsung TV Plus,” the company said.

Samsung further stated that the image had only been used after the content provider assured the company that all necessary permissions had been obtained, including approval related to television retail packaging.

“The image was used only after receiving explicit assurance from the content partner that permission had been secured, including for the retail boxes,” the statement added.

Company says it is open to resolution

The South Korean technology giant also said it respected the intellectual property rights of artists and remained willing to resolve the dispute through discussions with Lipa’s representatives.

“We have actively sought and remain open to a constructive resolution with Ms. Lipa’s team,” Samsung said.

The company additionally stated that it held “great respect” for the singer and for artists’ intellectual property protections.

Lawsuit linked to festival photograph

According to court filings, Lipa’s legal team alleged that Samsung used a backstage photograph taken at a music festival in Austin in 2024 without obtaining authorisation from the singer.

The image was allegedly featured on packaging for televisions sold in the United States last year.

The lawsuit claims that after Lipa objected to the use of the photograph in July 2025, Samsung halted production of the packaging design, replaced it with an alternative version and entered mediation proceedings with the singer’s legal team.

However, the matter was not resolved and the lawsuit later proceeded.

Multiple legal violations alleged

The complaint filed by Lipa’s legal representatives includes allegations of copyright infringement, violations under California’s right of publicity law, trademark-related claims and a federal claim under the Lanham Act.

Samsung has not accepted the allegations and says discussions with the singer’s team remain ongoing.

With agency inputs