"Dua Lipa filed a $15 million federal lawsuit against Samsung Electronics on Friday, alleging that the company has been using a 2024 photograph of her on the packaging for its Crystal UHD televisions since 2025 without her permission and without any agreement to pay her for the use. The image, according to the complaint, was taken backstage at the 2024 Austin City Limits Festival. It shows the singer in close-up, recognisable to the millions of fans who have made her one of the most photographed pop musicians of the decade."
"Samsung began shipping the photograph on cardboard boxes for its Crystal UHD line in 2025 and continues to do so. The suit was filed in the Central District of California. Lipa's lawyers are seeking damages on three legal theories. Copyright infringement, on the basis that Samsung did not license the underlying image. Trademark infringement, on the basis that her name and likeness function as marks under California law. Violation of her right of publicity, the California statute that protects a person's commercial control over their own image."
"California's statute, codified in Civil Code Section 3344, awards minimum statutory damages of $750 per knowing unauthorised use, with actual and punitive damages also available. Multiplied across the production run of a global television line, the arithmetic explains the $15 million figure. The complaint frames Samsung's behaviour in pointed terms. Lipa says she became aware of the image's presence on the packaging in June 2025. Her team sent cease-and-desist requests. Samsung, the complaint alleges, refused to stop."
Dua Lipa filed a $15 million federal lawsuit against Samsung Electronics alleging unauthorized use of a 2024 backstage photograph on Crystal UHD television packaging worldwide. The complaint states Samsung began shipping the image on cardboard boxes in 2025 and continues to do so. Lipa alleges she did not grant permission or enter any agreement to pay for the use of her name and likeness. The claims include copyright infringement for lack of licensing, trademark infringement based on her name and likeness functioning as marks, and violation of California’s right of publicity statute. The right-of-publicity claim seeks statutory damages of at least $750 per knowing unauthorized use, plus actual and punitive damages.
#right-of-publicity #copyright-infringement #trademark-infringement #celebrity-image-licensing #consumer-electronics-packaging
Read at TNW | Samsung
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