A former chief designer at Danish hi-fi company Bang & Olufsen (B&O) has publicly dismissed claims that Samsung and Canvas HiFi copied the design of the Beovision Contour with their new Samsung Canvas “HiFi Frame” TV.

B&O, which has struggled in Australia and has been handling a continuing fall in revenues, is well known for taking aim at competitors and in most cases losing over design issues.

However, its latest attempt to halt the Samsung Canvas product launch and seek damages has been labelled “questionable” by Timothy Jacob Jensen, one of Denmark’s most acclaimed designers and a major figure in international design circles.

When asked to comment on the dispute, Jensen said B&O’s accusations against Canvas HiFi were unfounded.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

B&O has reportedly demanded that Canvas HiFi — which partnered with Samsung to develop the HiFi Frame TV — immediately stop sales and marketing of the product.

Canvas HiFi rejected all accusations in a written response sent to B&O in September. According to sources, neither Samsung nor Canvas HiFi has heard back from B&O since. The Danish audio company recently reported a 5% year-on-year revenue decline, with branded channel revenue dropping 12%.

Jensen criticised B&O’s silence, saying:

“B&O accuses Canvas HiFi of being a copy of theirs. Naturally, that’s not something we can accept. When we’re also met with silence from B&O, and the press is met with ‘no comment’ or evasive answers even when asking direct questions, I now feel compelled to shed more light on the matter.”

He drew an analogy to the automotive industry:

“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 the Canvas HiFi Frame and Beovision Contour, it is clear there are significant differences in proportions, materials, design execution, and overall visual expression.”

This isn’t the first time B&O has taken legal action over design similarities — the company previously sued German brand Loewe for allegedly copying its TV design, but lost the case after nearly a year in court.

Despite B&O’s latest threats, Samsung and Canvas HiFi will proceed with their plans to launch the HiFi Frame in November 2025, with a global debut expected at CES 2026.

Laust Nielsen, CEO of Canvas HiFi, defended the company’s design direction:

“We have created a product with an entirely new approach to both sound and design, one that stands out clearly from every other in the industry.

The fact that our design features classic Nordic colours and materials is a natural choice for a Danish design brand. We fully understand that competition from a new Danish brand might irritate B&O — but having long been the only Danish TV manufacturer does not grant a monopoly on Nordic design.”