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.
OMG Girlz members, including Zonnique Pullins, Bahja Rodriguez, and Breaunna Womack, expressed their satisfaction with the verdict on social media, emphasizing the importance of protecting creativity and ideas from exploitation.
In response to the ruling, MGA Entertainment, known for brands like Bratz and Mini Verse, denied the allegations of infringement and misappropriation. The company's lawyers argued that the claims were baseless and offensive, highlighting that over 40 million “L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G.” dolls had been sold without causing customer confusion.
The legal battle between the parties dates back to 2020 when MGA filed a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment to affirm that its products did not violate any intellectual property rights of OMG Girlz. Subsequent trials and counterclaims ensued, leading to the recent jury decision in favor of OMG Girlz, Tiny, and T.I.
Attorneys representing OMG Girlz, Tiny, and T.I. commended their clients' determination and courage in standing up against a billion-dollar corporation's alleged intimidation tactics. They praised the jury for holding MGA Entertainment fully accountable for the infringement and misappropriation.
