The National Times - Dua Lipa sues Samsung in US over use of her likeness on TV box

Dua Lipa sues Samsung in US over use of her likeness on TV box


Dua Lipa sues Samsung in US over use of her likeness on TV box
Dua Lipa sues Samsung in US over use of her likeness on TV box / Photo: © AFP/File

Pop star Dua Lipa is suing Samsung over trademark infringement, alleging the South Korean conglomerate illegally used a photo of the star to juice US television sales.

Change text size:

Attorneys for Lipa filed the suit Friday in a US court in California, claiming "massive, continuing, unauthorized commercial exploitation of her valuable image and likeness by Samsung on cardboard television boxes."

Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The legal papers include a snapshot of the box for a high definition television. The television screen is filled with several images, the largest showing part of Lipa's face.

The photo, titled "Dua Lipa - Backstage at Austin City Limits, 2024," is registered with the US copyright office and belongs to Lipa, according to the suit.

The suit lists Lipa's extensive commercial partnerships, including serving as global brand ambassador for Puma, campaigns with Versace and Yves Saint Laurent and collaborations with Porsche, Apple, Chanel, Nespresso, Bvlgari and Tiffany & Co.

"Ms. Lipa is highly selective in her commercial partnerships and has cultivated a premium brand through carefully curated, high-end sponsorships and endorsements," according to the suit. "Consistent with this deliberate strategy, Plaintiff would not have agreed to license her name, image or likeness in connection with the sale of the Infringing Products."

The suit lists eight civil offenses, including violation of right of publicity, copyright infringement and false endorsement.

The complaint seeks a permanent injunction, an award no less than for $15 million for actual damages and punitive damages.

F.Hammond--TNT

Featured

Trump warns Mideast truce on 'life support', Iran says ready for any aggression

President Donald Trump warned the ceasefire in the Middle East war was on "life support" Monday after rejecting the latest counteroffer from Iran, which said its military stood ready to respond to any act of aggression.

Cannes Film Festival defends male-dominated competition

The head of the Cannes Film Festival defended Monday making another male-dominated selection in a year when the movie "Thelma and Louise" features on the official poster.

SNC Scandic Coin: Real assets meet digital utility

Neue Zürcher Nachrichten (NZN) interviewed Uwe Sellmer about the fintech project SNC Scandic Coin, run by the globally active SFG (Scandic Finance Group) based in Hong Kong. Unlike many cryptocurrencies, the SNC is intended to function as a regulated payment and loyalty instrument within a global network of real-world services.NZN: Digital currencies are dominating the headlines. What attracts people to the SNC Scandic Coin, and how does it differ from the speculative tokens flooding the market?Uwe Sellmer: The appeal lies in the combination of technology, regulation and real-world utility. SFG brings together companies from the media sector – with over 115 of its own daily newspapers operating across all continents – as well as finance, mobility, technology, real estate and data centres, and uses the token within this network for payments. Holders can use it to pay for services such as flights, yachts, apps and domains. The supply is capped at one billion SNC; only a small portion will be issued at launch. The proceeds go towards security, audits, infrastructure, liquidity, marketing and operations. A clear purpose and low fees set it apart from speculative coins.Neue Zürcher Nachrichten: What does the Scandic ecosystem look like, and how does the media group fit into it?Uwe Sellmer: The Scandic ECO System encompasses aviation, data technology, real estate, mobility, healthcare and other sectors. The token serves as a common means of payment, as well as an access and customer loyalty tool for these services. One partner in the network is the Legier Group, which, amongst other things, publishes daily newspapers on every continent and, together with its own news app https://apps.apple.com/de/app/legier-global-news/id6756674261 and https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pagedrop.lagier, explains the project and promotes its launch. This blend of services and media helps to combine real value with communication.Neue Zürcher Nachrichten: How do you ensure security and regulatory compliance?Uwe Sellmer: In early 2026, the smart contract was audited by CertiK https://skynet.certik.com/projects/scandic-coin. The Skynet report shows that an audit took place in March 2026, which yielded a high rating in terms of security and, consequently, trust. We have completed a full KYC verification, collaborate with regulatory authorities worldwide and have published a comprehensive white paper. CRIF, a global group specialising in credit and business information systems, analytics, outsourcing and open banking solutions, handles the KYC and anti-money laundering processes for the SNC Scandic Coin. An ESG certificate and multi-layered risk management confirm compliance.Neue Zürcher Nachrichten: Why did you choose the name “SNC Scandic Coin”?Uwe Sellmer: The letters SNC stand for S: Security / Synergy, N: Network and C: Community. They encapsulate our aim to connect different industries and build a community of users and partners. Scandinavian values such as transparency, modern design and digital literacy are reflected in our principles and underpin the fact that the SNC Scandic Coin is part of the SFG, which stands for trust and networking.Neue Zürcher Nachrichten: When and where will trading begin?Uwe Sellmer: Trading will begin shortly. The coin will initially be listed on BitMart, a regulated global exchange. In 2025, BitMart’s annual futures trading volume rose by 68 per cent, exceeding the sum of 9 trillion US dollars in the past year 2025. Agreements with other major, well-known exchanges have been signed for the SNC Scandic Coin and will launch simultaneously; their names will be announced prior to the exchange launch. Up-to-date information is available on our official channels and on the website https://www.SNCCoin.dev

Trump says Mideast truce on 'life support' after rejecting Iran stance

President Donald Trump said the ceasefire in the Middle East war was on "life support" Monday after rejecting Iran's latest counteroffer, which it said had included demands for the release of frozen assets and the end of a US blockade.

Change text size: