In a significant legal victory, rapper T.I. (Clifford Harris) and his wife, singer-songwriter Tameka “Tiny” Harris, have been awarded $71 million by a jury in their lawsuit against MGA Entertainment.
The couple claimed that the toy giant infringed upon the intellectual property rights of their former teen pop group, the OMG Girlz, through its popular L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. line of dolls.
Details of the Ruling
As reported by the Daily Journal, the jury delivered its verdict after a three-week trial in federal court in Santa Ana, California.
The award consists of $17.8 million in real damages and $53.6 million in punitive damages. This marks the couple’s third attempt at legal action against MGA Entertainment.
The initial trial in January 2023 ended in a mistrial due to jurors being exposed to prohibited testimony regarding allegations of cultural appropriation.
In a subsequent trial, MGA Entertainment emerged victorious, but a June 2023 Supreme Court ruling allowed for the case to be retried, stressing that consumer confusion regarding products should be considered more critically in intellectual property infringement cases.
Trial Findings
The jury unanimously found that seven out of the 32 dolls presented during the trial infringed on the likeness and trade dress of the OMG Girlz.
Although not all dolls were deemed infringing, some were found to closely mimic the appearances of iconic artists such as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
T.I.’s attorney, John Keville, argued for a significant punitive award to send a message to MGA Entertainment, asserting that they should face penalties of between $35 million and $72 million for their actions.
Throughout the proceedings, Keville showcased social media posts from consumers who believed the dolls were inspired by the OMG Girlz, highlighting the confusion surrounding the products.
Background of the OMG Girlz
The OMG Girlz were formed in 2009 by T.I. and Tiny, with Tiny’s daughter, Zonnique “Star” Pullins, as a core member.
Although the group has gone through various changes and disbandments over the years, the original members, including Pullins, Bahja “Beauty” Rodriguez, and Breaunna “Babydoll” Womack, reunited last year and are currently on tour, promoting a new single released early last month.
They attended the trial and provided testimony, alleging that the disputed dolls mimicked their looks from specific public appearances.
This ruling underscores the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry, particularly for artists seeking to safeguard their likeness and brand identity from unauthorized commercial exploitation.
