NEW YORK – Toy maker MGA Entertainment must pay $71.5 million in damages for infringing on the name and likeness of the teen pop group OMG Girlz with one of its popular lines of dolls, a federal jury has decided.
In Monday’s verdict, OMG Girlz, Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Harris, and rapper Chris “T.I.” Harris emerged victorious in the third court trial related to a prolonged intellectual property dispute with the California company. The jury found MGA’s “L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G.” dolls to have a name and style similar to that of the all-female band, infringing on their “trade dress” and misappropriating their name and likeness. As a result, the jury awarded a total of $71.5 million in damages to OMG Girlz, Tiny, and T.I.
OMG Girlz member Zonnique Pullins’ mother, Tiny, and stepfather, T.I., expressed their joy over the verdict on Instagram, thanking the court for standing up for their creativity and ideas.
The legal battle between MGA and OMG Girlz escalated in 2020 when MGA filed a lawsuit challenging accusations of IP rights violation. Despite MGA’s initial denial of the claims, the jury ultimately held the company accountable for its actions.
Attorneys representing OMG Girlz, Tiny, and T.I. commended the trio’s determination in standing up against a corporate giant, applauding the jury for delivering a just verdict.
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