A federal jury has ruled that toy maker MGA Entertainment must pay $71.5 million in damages for infringing on the name and likeness of teen pop group OMG Girlz with its line of dolls. The verdict, delivered on Monday, marks a significant win for OMG Girlz, as well as Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Harris and rapper Chris “T.I.” Harris, in their ongoing intellectual property battle with the California company.
The jury found that MGA's “L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G.” dolls bore similarities in name and style to the all-female band, including clothing that appeared to be lookalike. This infringement was deemed to violate OMG Girlz's “trade dress” and misappropriate the group's “name, likeness, and identity.” As a result, the jury awarded OMG Girlz, Tiny, and T.I. $17.9 million in real damages and $53.6 million in punitive damages.
