Bang & Olufsen Faces Design Dispute with CANVAS HiFi
A new controversy has surfaced in Denmark’s design scene: Bang & Olufsen alleges that CANVAS HiFi’s new Samsung + CANVAS The HiFi Frame closely resembles its own Beovision Contour television. CANVAS rejects the accusation and says it has obtained an independent review from former B&O chief designer Timothy Jacob Jensen, who, according to CANVAS, found no evidence of imitation. The dispute brings into focus a long-standing question — where does design inspiration end and imitation begin?
- Bang & Olufsen accuses CANVAS HiFi of copying the Beovision Contour’s design. CANVAS denies the claim, citing an expert assessment by former B&O designer Timothy Jacob Jensen. The HiFi Frame launch remains scheduled for November 2025.
Scandinavian design has long been associated with precision, restraint, and timeless minimalism. Yet even within this tradition, creative borders are now being tested. For the first time, it has become public that Bang & Olufsen has accused CANVAS HiFi ApS of imitating the look of its Beovision Contour model. According to CANVAS HiFi, the claims are unfounded, and an independent expert assessment supports its position. What began as an internal disagreement has now evolved into a broader debate over ownership of design language and the definition of originality in modern audio-visual products.
Key Facts
- Parties involved: Bang & Olufsen (B&O) and CANVAS HiFi
- Allegation: Similar design between Beovision Contour and CANVAS The HiFi Frame
- CANVAS position: No copying, independent development
- Expert referenced by CANVAS: Timothy Jacob Jensen, former B&O chief designer
- Assessment (as cited by CANVAS): Clear differences in proportions, materials, and overall form
- Market launch: November 2025 (according to CANVAS HiFi)
Context – A Matter of Danish Design Identity
Few brands have influenced modern industrial design as profoundly as Bang & Olufsen. For nearly a century, B&O has combined advanced engineering with minimalist aesthetics, establishing an unmistakable visual signature.
CANVAS HiFi, a much younger brand, positions itself as part of that same Nordic lineage — merging design purity with contemporary audio technology. The controversy began when CANVAS, in collaboration with Samsung, introduced The HiFi Frame, a concept combining premium audio performance and integrated TV functionality.
According to CANVAS HiFi, Bang & Olufsen subsequently accused the company of producing a product that too closely resembled the Beovision Contour.
CANVAS HiFi’s Response – Independence and Expert Validation
In its public statement, CANVAS HiFi strongly rejects the allegations. The company claims that development of The HiFi Frame predates the launch of the Beovision Contour and that its design language emerged independently.
To reinforce its position, CANVAS says it commissioned an independent evaluation by Professor Timothy Jacob Jensen, a veteran of Bang & Olufsen’s design department and one of Denmark’s most awarded industrial designers.
According to CANVAS HiFi, Jensen concluded that the B&O claims could not be substantiated. His assessment, as cited by CANVAS, emphasizes clear differences in proportions, materials, and visual composition, adding that general design languages or conceptual approaches cannot be claimed as exclusive intellectual property.
Bang & Olufsen Has Yet to Comment
As of now, Bang & Olufsen has not issued any public statement in response to CANVAS HiFi’s release. CANVAS asserts that its earlier written reply to B&O went unanswered and that press inquiries to the Danish manufacturer have so far received no comment. Without an official response from Bang & Olufsen, only CANVAS HiFi’s version of events is publicly available, leaving the situation open to further clarification.
A Broader Debate on Design Protection
Design protection in the audio-visual sector is notoriously complex. Products increasingly blur the line between technology and furniture, and aesthetic similarities can occur naturally within shared cultural traditions. Bang & Olufsen has faced similar cases before — most notably a failed lawsuit against German manufacturer Loewe over comparable design elements. The court at that time ruled that aesthetic resemblance alone was not sufficient to prove infringement. Whether this new disagreement will escalate into a legal dispute remains unclear.
Market Plans Remain Unchanged
Despite the controversy, CANVAS HiFi maintains that The HiFi Frame will launch as scheduled in November 2025. According to the company, the model has already been recognized by several international design and audio juries for both its form and sound engineering. CANVAS frames the episode as a natural consequence of competition in a design landscape long dominated by established brands — and as proof that new ideas still emerge from the same Nordic roots.
Conclusion
The unfolding dispute between Bang & Olufsen and CANVAS HiFi ApS highlights the delicate balance between design heritage and creative freedom. While Bang & Olufsen seeks to protect a visual identity built over decades, CANVAS argues for the right to reinterpret that same aesthetic language in a new form. For now, only one side has spoken publicly. Whether the matter will evolve into a legal battle or fade into quiet coexistence remains to be seen — but the debate has already reignited global attention on the meaning of originality in Scandinavian design.
| Product | Samsung + CANVAS The HiFi Frame |
|---|---|
| Price | between € 5.000,- and € 10.000,- |
| Brand | Canvas HiFi |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Canvas HiFi |
| Distribution | inveoo GmbH |
| More about this manufacturer at HiFi BLOG |
