Dua Lipa is suing Samsung, claiming the tech giant used her image to sell their TVs without permission.
According to a complaint obtained by People, the pop star, 30, accused Samsung of using a copyrighted backstage image of her on packaging for TVs sold across the United States.
She is seeking $US15 million (approx $21 million) in damages, in addition to a share of profits connected to the sale of the product.
The lawsuit, which was filed late last week, claimed Lipa’s likeness had been used by the company without prior consent.
“Ms. Lipa’s face was prominently used for a mass marketing campaign for a consumer product without her knowledge, without consideration, and as to which she had no say, control, or input whatsoever,” the lawsuit stated.
“Ms. Lipa did not allow and would not have allowed this use.”
The filing further claimed the use of her image falsely implied her endorsement of the product.
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It suggested it had contributed significantly to sales, giving fans the impression she was affiliated with the brand and “inducing potential consumers to buy [the product] because it featured Ms. Lipa.”
In the filing, she cited discourse on social media that showed fans’ reactions to the box.
A shot of the product in question featuring Lipa’s likeness was previously posted to an Instagram fan account, with the caption “DUA IN THE WILD!! Spotted in Miami on the Samsung Tv box.”
In response to the post, one fan wrote “I wasn’t even planning on buying a TV but I saw the box so I decided to get it.”
Another commenter stated they’d “get that TV just because Dua is on it.”
It is also alleged Samsung refused to comply with repeated cease and desist demands from the pop star, describing the company’s response as “dismissive and callous.”
“The Infringing Products remain on the market to this day, still being sold throughout the country in ongoing acts of wilful infringement.”
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”Samsung’s arrogance in refusing to stop its infringement confirms its conscious disregard of Ms. Lipa’s intellectual property and personal identity rights,” it said.
The image at the centre of the dispute is entitled “Dua Lipa – Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024” and is currently registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.
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