Bang & Olufsen Threatens Legal Action to Block Samsung + CANVAS “The HiFi Frame” Launch

Denmark’s largest business newspaper, Børsen, has revealed that Bang & Olufsen is threatening legal action to stop the upcoming launch of the Samsung + CANVAS “The HiFi Frame.” The dispute centers on alleged design similarities that B&O clearly isn’t framing as flattery, regarding its Beovision Contour TV. With the new Canvas product set to hit stores by the end of October, the Danish audio icon seems ready to turn this into more than just a sound check.

We covered the launch recently, and for good reason — this thing isn’t your average “TV with speakers.” The Canvas + Samsung HiFi Frame takes the idea of blending high-end audio with display tech and turns it into something that actually looks like it belongs in a living room instead of a bachelor pad. It’s a statement piece disguised as consumer electronics — which, let’s be honest, is precisely the kind of design territory B&O has claimed as its own for decades. So it’s not shocking they’re reaching for the legal volume knob — but do they really have a case?

We reached out to Laust Nielsen, CEO of Canvas HiFi, for clarity on the situation and additional details.

Bang & Olufsen vs Canvas HiFi: Legal Battle Over The HiFi Frame Design

According to Børsen, Bang & Olufsen (B&O) has accused Canvas HiFi of design theft, claiming the company is “free-riding” on the Danish design icon’s legacy. B&O has reportedly demanded that the HiFi Frame be withdrawn from the market, all remaining stock destroyed, and financial compensation paid.

B&O’s lawyer, Claus Barrett Christiansen, a partner at Bech-Bruun, sent a formal letter to Canvas outlining the demands. The letter also warns that if Canvas fails to comply by October 1, 2025, B&O will “initiate the necessary legal steps to prevent continued infringement of the company’s rights.”

Heidi Winkler, General Counsel at Bang & Olufsen, confirmed the company’s position, stating that “like other luxury brands, we will always defend our rights and protect our brand — and we are doing so in this case as well.”

Canvas HiFi has firmly rejected B&O’s accusations. In a written response, Canvas’ lawyer, Børge Nielsen, called the claims “highly problematic,” arguing that “it appears highly problematic that an international corporation like Bang & Olufsen makes unfounded claims against a small Danish company.”

The dispute carries a personal dimension as well. Laust Nielsen, CEO and majority owner of Canvas HiFi, previously owned an authorized B&O store in Frederikshavn until 2019. Now at the helm of Canvas, Nielsen has characterized the legal action as heavy-handed. “At worst, it must be seen as deliberate harassment aimed at bullying a smaller player in the market,” he told Børsen.

Canvas vs. B&O

B&O contends that the Canvas HiFi soundbar, which features wooden front panels and a unified frame design, closely resembles the company’s Beovision Contour. Nielsen disputes that claim, insisting the design predates B&O’s 2020 launch. “Our design with the wooden panels was developed before B&O launched its product in 2020. I have documentation for that, and I will present it if necessary,” he said.

The situation is further complicated by Canvas HiFi’s partnership with Samsung, which provides the display component for the HiFi Frame. B&O argues that the product borrows “distinctive features originally introduced with Beovision Contour,” including “the design of the surrounding frame that integrates the TV and soundbar into one cohesive unit.”

Nielsen disagrees, pointing out that Samsung’s The Frame TV design predates B&O’s Contour. “The Frame is an internationally recognized design, and our collaboration merely integrates Canvas’ audio solution,” he said. “Therefore, I do not believe there is any form of copying involved.”

While acknowledging certain aesthetic similarities between the products, Nielsen maintains that the two are clearly distinct. “A discerning consumer can easily tell the difference,” he said. “B&O has made beautiful products for many years, and now we’ve joined the game. We should be able to coexist and focus on making great products for consumers.”

As of now, Canvas HiFi has not complied with any of B&O’s demands and continues to move forward with production and distribution of the HiFi Frame. The dispute underscores a growing tension between one of Denmark’s most storied design houses and a smaller upstart led by one of its former dealers — a conflict that’s quickly moving from the showroom to the courtroom.

Founded in 1925 in Struer by engineers Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen, Bang & Olufsen has long stood as one of Denmark’s most recognized design and audio brands. Despite its legacy, the company has faced several turbulent financial periods in recent years, lowering its forecasts in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Under CEO Kristian Teär, who took over from Henrik Clausen in 2019, B&O has worked to stabilize operations and strengthen its luxury positioning. The company’s stock has rebounded strongly, rising more than 40% over the past 12 months.

As part of Børsen’s coverage of the legal dispute between B&O and Canvas HiFi, the newspaper submitted a series of follow-up questions to the company. General Counsel Heidi Winkler did not respond directly to those inquiries but issued a broader statement defending B&O’s actions and long-standing commitment to design protection.

“Bang & Olufsen has created unique products and groundbreaking designs for 100 years,” Winkler wrote. “Like other luxury brands, we unfortunately experience imitations of our designs and other infringements of our rights globally from time to time. We will, like other luxury brands, always defend our rights and protect our brand — and we are doing so in this case. We owe that to our employees, customers, and shareholders.”

Update (October 27, 2025)

We have not received any further update from Bang & Olufsen as to whether their threat will proceed with legal action. However, in an interesting twist, Bang & Olufsen’s former chief designer, Timothy Jacob Jensen has sided with Canvas HiFi.

“Regarding Bang & Olufsen’s accusations against CANVAS HiFi, the following should be noted: After a thorough review of the allegations and a comparison of the relevant products, it is my assessment that Bang & Olufsen’s claims cannot be upheld. B&O is, in effect, seeking exclusive rights to a general design language or conceptual expression—something that has repeatedly been rejected by courts internationally. It is well known that a concept in itself cannot be protected, and it is further worth noting that B&O neither invented the loudspeaker nor the television.

As an illustrative example, one might consider a series of white station wagons from different manufacturers—viewed from the side, they may appear visually similar without constituting copying. Likewise, a TV with an integrated soundbar can appear similar in overall shape, as long as there is no direct imitation.

When comparing CANVAS The HiFi Frame and Beovision Contour, it is clear that there are significant differences in proportions, material choices, design execution, and overall visual expression,” stated Jensen.

Bang & Olufsen vs. Loewe

In a similar case 12 years ago, Bang & Olufsen previously sued the German brand Loewe for allegedly copying its TV design in which Bang & Olufsen lost after nearly a year in court. The ruling declared Loewe’s product differed sufficiently to avoid infringement.

Bang & Olufsen U.S. Dealer Dispute: David Junk Lawsuit and Store Closures

Bang & Olufsen is also facing a separate legal conflict in the United States involving one of its former dealers, David Junk, based in California. The company terminated its partnership with Junk last year, resulting in the closure of his five retail stores across the state.

Following the termination, David Junk filed a lawsuit against Bang & Olufsen, alleging that the company illegally ended his dealership agreement and forced the closure of his stores. In response, B&O petitioned a California court to restrict Junk and his company, M&N Luxury AV, from making what the company described as “defamatory” statements about B&O to its board members, investors, and the media.

That request, however, was rejected by the court, allowing Junk to continue speaking publicly about the dispute.

B&O maintains that the termination was justified. According to the company, Junk and M&N Luxury AV were dropped as authorized dealers because they “repeatedly failed to pay their invoices on time.”

The U.S. case adds another layer to B&O’s growing list of legal challenges — this time across the Atlantic — as the company defends its business practices and reputation amid mounting scrutiny from both former partners and competitors.

The Bottom Line

Bang & Olufsen’s legal challenges, both in Denmark and the U.S., highlight the high stakes involved in protecting design rights and business interests. While B&O asserts that Canvas HiFi’s HiFi Frame infringes on its Beovision Contour design, Canvas maintains that its product predates B&O’s launch and that the collaboration with Samsung is entirely legitimate. The dispute remains unresolved, with legal action potentially looming on both sides. We will be following this story closely, particularly given our strong support for Canvas and the innovative products they bring to the market.

Learn more about The HiFi Frame and Beovision Contour.

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