In a landmark legal battle, the hip-hop mogul and his wife have won a massive $71 million judgment against toymaker MGA Entertainment after a three-week trial.
- September 24, 2024
AceShowbiz - In a groundbreaking decision, a federal jury in Santa Ana, California, awarded T.I. and Tiny Harris a.k.a. Tameka Cottle $17.9 million in real damages and a whopping $53.6 million in punitive damages after finding that MGA had infringed on the intellectual property rights of their teen pop group OMG Girlz.
Jurors determined that 13 out of more than 30 disputed dolls infringed on the trade dress and misappropriated the name, image and likeness of OMG Girlz, formed by T.I. and Tiny in 2009. A 14th doll violated the group's trade dress, and a 15th misappropriated their name, image and likeness.
T.I. expressed his triumph, calling it a testament to his family's resilience and a victory for artists against large corporations that exploit their intellectual property. He emphasized the importance of standing up for creatives and their hard work.
MGA's attorney argued that the lawsuit was a "money grab," but T.I. dismissed it as a "bully tactic." He accused MGA of ripping off his family and belittling their success.
Tiny thanked her legal team and expressed gratitude for the jury's support, stating that the evidence clearly proved MGA's theft. She emphasized their determination to protect their creation and prevent others from exploiting it.
At trial, T.I. and Tiny alleged that MGA marketed seven specific dolls with looks that copied specific public appearances or publicized photos of OMG Girlz. MGA denied the allegations, and its founder claimed that the group had no role in the doll designs.
The jury's verdict came after two previous trials with the same judge. The first trial ended in a mistrial after barred testimony accused MGA of cultural appropriation. The second trial resulted in a victory for MGA, but T.I. and Tiny were granted a retrial after the Supreme Court ruled that consumer confusion should carry more weight in infringement cases.
This historic victory sets a new precedent in protecting artists' intellectual property and demonstrates T.I. and Tiny's determination to safeguard their creative works and the legacy of OMG Girlz.
