Rapper T.I., his wife Tiny, and their former girl group, the OMG Girlz, won a $71.4 million verdict from a California federal judge in their well-known legal dispute with toy manufacturer, MGA Entertainment.
A jury last fall awarded $17.8 million in real damages and $53.6 million in punitive damages, which is reflected in the final verdict rendered by Judge James Selna.
After post-trial motions, Judge James Selna first struck down the punitive component; however, in his final ruling, he reversed that decision and restored the full amount. 3.972% interest is also applied to the amount.
The main point of contention was the 15 LOL Surprise! dolls. A jury determined that OMG dolls violated the OMG Girlz‘s trade dress and appropriated their likeness. Since then, MGA has removed those dolls from going up on sale.
The legal battle hasn’t ended yet, though. The $71.4 million compensation is currently on hold while MGA appeals the decision to the 9th Circuit, according to court filings.
The lawsuit was initially brought by Clifford “T.I.” Harris and Tameka “Tiny” Harris, who claimed that MGA had stolen the group’s distinctive style, dress, and bold hair and utilized it to create a doll empire without giving them credit or payment.
Known for their colorful appearance and preteen fan base, the OMG Girlz were founded in 2009, and the jury concluded that their influence was indisputable.
Tiny highlighted the case’s wider significance outside of the courtroom after the verdict in a social media post.
