Dua Lipa vs. Samsung: Pop Star Says Use of Her Face on TV Boxes Was Straight-Up Theft

Dua Lipa is not backing down in her legal fight with Samsung. The pop star sued the electronics company earlier this year for using her photo on TV packaging without her permission, and Samsung responded by asking a judge to dismiss the case back in September 2025. On Friday, October 16, 2026, her legal team filed their response, calling the suit straightforward and the facts undeniable. In their filing, they said she licenses her image selectively to luxury brands for significant money, and that Samsung benefited from that same value. Their sharpest line: none of Samsung’s arguments excuse the theft.

Samsung’s defense leans on two big claims. First, they argue consumers were not misled into thinking Dua Lipa personally endorsed their televisions, so no real harm was done. Second, they say she cannot sue because she lives in England, not California. Her lawyers dispute both, arguing that celebrity endorsements are recognizable to fans precisely because her likeness carries weight, and that California’s likeness laws should still protect her.

Beyond the drama, this case raises a real question about who controls a public figure’s image in the U.S. market, and whether international stars get the same protections as American ones. If a company can use your face and argue it meant nothing, what does that say about the value of any endorsement?

Do you think Dua Lipa should win this case, or should Samsung walk? Drop your take in the comments.