Samsung has a new legal headache, and this one involves Dua Lipa’s face on TV boxes. The pop star has sued Samsung Electronics America and Samsung Electronics Co. in California federal court. It is accusing the company of copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and violating her right to publicity. The complaint claims Samsung is using a copyrighted image of Lipa on cardboard boxes for its televisions without authorization.
Why is Samsung getting sued?
In the complaint, the company allegedly “prominently featured” a copyrighted image of Dua Lipa on the front of cardboard boxes containing Samsung TVs sold across the US. The filing says the image appeared on boxes for Samsung televisions in various sizes, and an example in the complaint shows a Samsung Crystal UHD TV box with Lipa’s image displayed on the screen graphic.
The lawsuit says that Lipa is the sole owner of the copyright in the image, listed in the complaint under Copyright Registration No. VA 2-479-685. It also argues that Samsung’s use of the image could create a false impression that Lipa endorsed, approved, or was associated with the company’s TVs.
The lawsuit is asking for big money
This isn’t just a takedown request. The complaint asks for damages of no less than $15 million, plus Samsung’s profits tied to the alleged unauthorized use of the image. Lipa is also seeking punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and an injunction to stop Samsung from continuing to use the image.
The filing alleges Samsung continued selling the products after Lipa became aware of the issue around June 2025 and demanded that the company stop. The complaint says Samsung “repeatedly refused” those demands and continued selling the allegedly infringing products. The singer’s lawyers argue that her name, image, and likeness carry major commercial value because of her music career, global recognition, and brand deals with companies like Puma, Versace, YSL Beauty, Porsche, Apple, Chanel, Tiffany & Co., Bvlgari, and Nespresso. So, Samsung should have secured permission and paid for it. This news arrives just a couple of days after another lawsuit that aims to block all Samsung foldables sales in the US.
Mortal Kombat 2 understands fan-service better than storytelling
A movie made for fans… maybe a little too much
I still remember the first time I properly got into Mortal Kombat. Like many people from my generation, I had obviously seen the characters before. Scorpion yelling “Get over here!”, Sub-Zero freezing people into ice cubes, Raiden looking like a thunder god who somehow still manages to disappear whenever the plot needs him most. Mortal Kombat was always around. But it wasn’t until the 2011 Mortal Kombat reboot game that I truly became invested in the franchise. That game was special because it balanced everything perfectly. It had the gore, the ridiculousness, the iconic rivalries, but it also had a surprisingly engaging story that tied together the first three games in a way even casual players could follow. It made characters like Liu Kang, Kung Lao, Kitana, Raiden, and Johnny Cage actually feel important beyond just being arcade fighters.
That’s probably why the 2021 Mortal Kombat movie disappointed me so much. It felt like a film that wanted to introduce a brand-new guy nobody asked for while pushing actual fan-favorite characters into the background. The fights were decent, sure, but the emotional core was missing. So when Mortal Kombat 2 was announced, I genuinely had hope. This looked like the correction fans were asking for. More tournament action, more classic characters, more lore, more violence, and finally, Johnny Cage entering the mix. On paper, this should have been the movie that finally nailed Mortal Kombat.
AnimeKai, one of the biggest pirated anime streaming sites, has gone offline
AnimeKai is dead, and the reason is literally on fire
One of the bigger names in pirated anime streaming, AnimeKai, has just gone offline. While the usual takedown from corporations is expected, the issue this time around seems unusually dramatic. A post on the r/AnimeKAI subreddit, labeled as an official announcement, says AnimeKai will be shutting down. The reason? Problems in running the site, especially a data center being on fire.
What’s next for AnimeKai users?
5 great free movies to watch on New Year’s Day
Five free movies to stream on New Year’s Day that match how you actually want to watch
New Year’s Day doesn’t always call for a big plan. For a lot of people, it’s about staying in, slowing down, and putting something on without overthinking it. That’s also where free movies start to make more sense, especially when you can press play without worrying about subscriptions or rentals.
The shift toward free, ad-supported streaming has made it easier to find something that fits how you actually want to watch. Sometimes that means an easy film you can let play in the background, while at other times it’s something you settle into properly. The difference isn’t about what’s “best,” but what works for the kind of day you’re having.
Some picks here are familiar rewatch options, others are more recent films that are currently available to stream for free. Each one is chosen to match a different viewing mood, so you can find something that fits without spending time scrolling through platforms trying to figure out what’s available.
We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max,andthe best movies on Disney+.
When Harry Met Sally… (1989)
Few films carry over from New Year’s Eve into the next day as naturally as When Harry Met Sally, largely because of how its story resolves. That final sequence gives it a built-in sense of closure, which makes it just as fitting for a quieter New Year’s Day watch as it is for the night before. We first curated this list in 2024, and since then, When Harry Met Sally has remained one of the easiest recommendations to return to.
What keeps When Harry Met Sally in rotation is how well it holds up beyond the occasion. The writing and performances still feel precise, and the film doesn’t depend on surprise. The progression of the relationship, the rhythm of the scenes, and the dialogue carry it, which is also why it works just as well whether you’re watching it closely or letting it play in the background.
Stream When Harry Met Sally… for free on Pluto TV.
John Wick
Best for: A fast, no-friction action watch that keeps the energy up
