Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Samsung Denies Wrongful Use in Dua Lipa Lawsuit Citing Partner’s Assurances

The case tests corporate vetting of third-party content in celebrity image disputes.

Overview

  • Dua Lipa filed a $15 million suit accusing Samsung of printing a copyrighted photo titled “Dua Lipa – Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024” on TV boxes without permission.
  • The complaint layers claims under copyright, California’s right of publicity, the federal Lanham Act for false endorsement, and trademark law, and it seeks an order to stop any further use.
  • Lipa’s team says they started sending cease-and-desist notices in June 2025 after spotting the boxes, and they cited fan posts to show buyers thought she endorsed the TVs.
  • Samsung rejects wrongdoing and says a third-party content partner supplied the image and gave explicit assurances that all rights were cleared, including for retail packaging.
  • The dispute sits in early federal-court stages, and Samsung has signaled openness to a constructive resolution, a posture that could shape how brands handle outsourced images going forward.