AceShowbiz - Samsung has issued a response to the lawsuit filed by Dua Lipa concerning the use of her image on their television packaging. The electronics giant claims that it acted based on "explicit assurance" from one of its third-party content partners, who confirmed that all necessary permissions had been obtained before the image was used.

In a statement provided on Monday, May 11, Samsung addressed the allegations made by Dua Lipa that her likeness was exploited without authorization on Samsung TV boxes distributed during 2025 and 2026. The company explained that the image in question was included to represent content available on Samsung’s free streaming service, Samsung TV Plus. Samsung emphasized that they only used the image after receiving confirmation from the content partner that the rights to the image, including for retail packaging, had been properly secured.

"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 stated. "The image was used only after receiving explicit assurance from the content partner that permission had been secured, including for the retail boxes. Given this assurance, we deny any allegations of intentional misuse."

Samsung also expressed its respect for Dua Lipa and the intellectual property rights of all artists. The company said it remains open to a constructive resolution with her legal team to address the matter.

Meanwhile, no immediate comment was available from Dua Lipa’s attorney regarding Samsung's statement.

The lawsuit, which was filed on Friday, May 8, in federal court in Los Angeles, accuses Samsung of unauthorized commercial exploitation by using a photograph of Dua Lipa’s face on their TV retail boxes without consent. The singer's legal team claims that despite multiple cease-and-desist requests sent to Samsung, the company failed to remove the infringing packaging from the market.

"Samsung's response has been dismissive and callous, and the Infringing Products remain on the market to this day," Dua Lipa’s lawyers wrote in court documents. They described Samsung’s use of her image without any form of compensation or permission as a blatant disregard for her efforts and rights.

The lawsuit alleges that the image of Dua Lipa appeared on a significant number of televisions Samsung sold across the United States throughout 2025 and 2026. The legal team is seeking $15 million in damages as well as a share of the profits Samsung earned from the sales of these TVs.

At a time when celebrity image rights are increasingly complicated by technologies like deepfakes and voice cloning, Dua Lipa’s case against Samsung presents a straightforward allegation: a major corporation used her image in a mass marketing campaign without any licensing agreement, knowledge, or consent from the artist.

Her legal representatives underscored that the use of her face was prominent in marketing a consumer product without her control, input, or compensation. They stated, "Ms. Lipa did not allow and would not have allowed this use."

Adding weight to the claim, the photograph Samsung allegedly used is one owned directly by Dua Lipa. The image was taken backstage at the Austin City Limits festival in 2024, giving her copyright ownership, which strengthens her legal position. While she could sue even if a third-party photographer owned the photo, owning the copyright provides an additional legal advantage.

Samsung’s statement suggested the company believed the packaging usage was fully authorized through their content provider, which supplies video content to Samsung TVs. This explanation sheds light on how the issue may have arisen, but it does not clarify why the situation persisted for so long.

Dua Lipa’s lawyers say she first noticed the unauthorized use in June 2025 and promptly demanded that Samsung stop using her image on the packaging. However, almost a year later, they claim no effective resolution was reached, leaving them with no option but to pursue legal action.

Her attorneys criticized Samsung’s refusal to halt the infringement, calling it evidence of the company’s deliberate disregard for Dua Lipa’s intellectual property and personal rights. They wrote, "Samsung's arrogance in refusing to stop its infringement confirms its conscious disregard of Ms. Lipa's intellectual property and personal identity rights."

This lawsuit highlights the challenges artists face in protecting their image and likeness in commercial contexts, especially when large corporations rely on third-party assurances regarding content usage. The dispute between Dua Lipa and Samsung is ongoing, with the potential for a settlement or court ruling to determine the final outcome.

As the case develops, it underscores the importance of clear licensing agreements and rigorous verification processes when using celebrity images in marketing materials to avoid costly legal battles and reputational damage.