Current:Home > MyJury awards teen pop group OMG Girlz $71.5 million in battle with toy maker over “L.O.L.” dolls-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Jury awards teen pop group OMG Girlz $71.5 million in battle with toy maker over “L.O.L.” dolls
View Date:2024-12-23 20:03:51
NEW YORK (AP) — Toy maker MGA Entertainment must pay $71.5 million in damages for infringing on the name and likeliness of teen pop group OMG Girlz with one of its popular lines of dolls, a federal jury has decided.
Monday’s verdict hands a win to OMG Girlz — as well as Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Harris and rapper Chris “T.I.” Harris — in the third court trial related to a yearslong intellectual property battle with the California company. Among a web of back-and-forth claims, MGA’s “L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G.” dolls were held to have a name and style similar to that of the all-female band, including seemingly lookalike clothing.
The jury found that a handful of the dolls infringed on OMG Girlz’s “trade dress” and/or misappropriated the “name, likeness and identity” of the music group. As a result, court documents show, jurors awarded OMG Girlz, Tiny and T.I. $17.9 million in real damages plus $53.6 million in punitive damages.
Tiny and T.I. are the mother and stepfather of OMG Girlz member Zonnique Pullins. On Monday, Pullins and her fellow OMG Girlz members Bahja Rodriguez and Breaunna Womack all celebrated the verdict in posts to Instagram.
“This is for creatives everywhere,” Rodriguez wrote. “No longer will we be bullied into silence when it comes to others profiting off of our ideas and creativity.”
Tiny, who has been particularly outspoken about the case over the years, also applauded the decision Monday.
In 2020, MGA filed a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgement stating that its “L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G.” products did not violate any IP rights belonging to OMG Girlz, after receiving a cease-and-desist from the group. But counterclaims were soon filed from OMG Girlz, Tiny and T.I.'s team.
The first trial took place in January 2023, but a mistrial was declared the on grounds that barred testimony accusing the company of cultural appropriation was introduced. The second trial sided with MGA, but the judge later granted OMG Girlz’s request for a retrial.
Neither MGA, whose toy brands also include Bratz and Mini Verse, nor attorneys representing the company immediately responded to The Associated Press’ requests for comment Tuesday on the verdict.
MGA denied allegations of infringement and misappropriation throughout the trial. According to Rolling Stone, Paul J. Loh, one of the company’s lawyers, called the claims “baseless and offensive” in closing arguments — noting that MGA had sold more than 40 million “L.O.L Surprise! O.M.G.” dolls without customer confusion.
In a joint statement, attorneys on the other side of the case applauded OMG Girlz, Tiny, and T.I.'s determination and “courage to stand up for themselves and fight a billion-dollar corporation’s intimidation” — adding that the jury did the right thing by holding MGA “fully accountable.”
veryGood! (34)
Related
- AI could help scale humanitarian responses. But it could also have big downsides
- Jordan Chiles breaks silence on Olympic bronze medal controversy: 'Feels unjust'
- Rock legend Greg Kihn, known for 'The Breakup Song' and 'Jeopardy,' dies of Alzheimer's
- Sofia Richie Shares Special Way She’s Cherishing Mom Life With Baby Eloise
- Saving for retirement? How to account for Social Security benefits
- Police arrest 4 suspects in killing of former ‘General Hospital’ actor Johnny Wactor
- After record-breaking years, migrant crossings plunge at US-Mexico border
- After Partnering With the State to Monitor Itself, a Pennsylvania Gas Company Declares Its Fracking Operations ‘Safe’
- COINIXIAI Introduce
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword, But Daddy I Love Crosswords
Ranking
- 1 dead, 2 children injured in wrong-way crash; driver suspected of DWI: Reports
- Kansas will pay $50,000 to settle a suit over a transgender Highway Patrol employee’s firing
- US arrests reputed Peruvian gang leader wanted for 23 killings in his home country
- Here's What Jennifer Lopez Is Up to on Ben Affleck's Birthday
- Donna Kelce Includes Sweet Nod to Taylor Swift During Today Appearance With Craig Melvin
- Australian Breakdancer Raygun Addresses “Devastating” Criticism After 2024 Olympics
- Michael Brown’s death transformed a nation and sparked a decade of American reckoning on race
- Police arrest 4 suspects in killing of former ‘General Hospital’ actor Johnny Wactor
Recommendation
-
Dogecoin soars after Trump's Elon Musk announcement: What to know about the cryptocurrency
-
Recalled cucumbers in salmonella outbreak sickened 449 people in 31 states, CDC reports
-
Massachusetts governor says deals have been reached to keep some threatened hospitals open
-
Woman charged with trying to defraud Elvis Presley’s family through sale of Graceland
-
Chicago Bears will ruin Caleb Williams if they're not careful | Opinion
-
Katy Perry to receive Video Vanguard Award and perform live at 2024 MTV VMAs
-
US consumer sentiment rises slightly on Democratic optimism over Harris’ presidential prospects
-
14-year-old Alabama high school football player collapses, dies at practice