MGA Entertainment Hit with $71.5 Million Verdict in OMG Girlz Likeness Lawsuit

Toy Maker MGA Entertainment Ordered to Pay $71.5 Million in Damages to Teen Pop Group OMG Girlz

In a significant ruling, a federal jury has ordered toy manufacturer MGA Entertainment to pay $71.5 million in damages for infringing on the name and likeness of teen pop group OMG Girlz with its “L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G.” dolls. The verdict marks the conclusion of the third court trial in a protracted intellectual property battle.

The jury found that some of MGA’s dolls infringed on OMG Girlz’s “trade dress” and misappropriated the group’s “name, likeness, and identity.” As a result, OMG Girlz, along with Tameka “Tiny” Harris and rapper Chris “T.I.” Harris, were awarded $17.9 million in real damages and $53.6 million in punitive damages. Tiny and T.I. are the mother and stepfather of OMG Girlz member Zonnique Pullins.

The legal dispute began in 2020 when MGA filed a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment that its dolls did not violate OMG Girlz’s intellectual property rights after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from the group. OMG Girlz, Tiny, and T.I. subsequently filed counterclaims against MGA.

The case has seen multiple trials, with the first ending in a mistrial in January 2023 due to barred testimony about cultural appropriation. A second trial initially sided with MGA, but a retrial was granted in favor of OMG Girlz, leading to the current verdict.

Following the ruling, OMG Girlz members took to social media to celebrate the verdict, emphasizing the importance of protecting creative rights. Attorneys for the group and their families praised their clients’ determination and courage in standing up against a billion-dollar corporation.

MGA Entertainment and its attorneys have not immediately responded to requests for comment on the verdict. Throughout the trial, MGA denied the allegations, with one of its lawyers describing the claims as “baseless and offensive.”

This verdict is being hailed as a victory for creatives, underscoring the message that they should not be intimidated into silence when others profit from their ideas. The case also highlights ongoing issues surrounding intellectual property rights and cultural appropriation in the entertainment and toy industries.

As the dust settles on this landmark decision, its impact on future intellectual property disputes and the toy industry’s approach to product development remains to be seen.