T.I., Tiny, OMG Girlz Awarded $71 Million in Legal Fight Against Toy Company
T.I. and Tiny Score $71 Million Award in Court ... Don't Steal Our Intellectual Property!!!
update
12:59 PM PT -- OMG Girlz and their attorney just released a statement to TMZ, reveling in their big win.
“First and foremost, we’d like to thank God for seeing us through this tough battle. We’d also like to thank our attorneys, John Keville, Chante Westmoreland and Rob Green and the entire Sheppard Mullin team for their diligent work and perseverance on this case. It has taken us over four years to get vindication for MGA’s unlawful appropriation of our trade dress and likeness, and we are grateful to the jury for their attention during the case and their ability to see the truth through all MGA’s distractions.
"We hope this case makes companies think twice about taking an artist’s intellectual property without their permission. We will continue to create our music and grow our signature style for our fans. We love all of you for your support!”
John Keville of Sheppard Mullin and lead counsel for the Harris family also added ...
"T.I. and Tiny did what any parent would have done—used their resources to stand up for their kids. We were proud to represent the OMG Girlz, Tiny and T.I. who had the courage to stand up for themselves. They fought a billion-dollar corporate bully with grace, perseverance, and a determination to stand up for themselves and other creatives and because of that a remarkable jury did the fair, just and right thing by holding MGA FULLY ACCOUNTABLE.”
T.I. and Tiny emerged victorious in their lawsuit against toy company MGA Entertainment -- and if the award stands, the couple will be a whole lot richer as a result.
A jury awarded the music duo a whopping $71 million after their weeks-long trial wrapped up Monday after finding MGA violated the intellectual property rights of their teen pop group, OMG Girlz ... according to Rolling Stone magazine.
The jurors reportedly agreed that "L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls" infringed on the trade dress and misappropriated the name, image, and likeness of the all-female group that T.I. and Tiny formed in 2009.
At trial, T.I. and Tiny zeroed in on 7 dolls MGA promoted that they argued had the identical appearance of their OMG Girlz during "very specific public events," including the image and likeness of Tiny's oldest daughter, Zonnique Pullins.
Following the verdict, Tiny celebrated their big win outside the federal courthouse in Santa Ana, California.
In an Instagram Live video, Tiny said she and T.I. "did this for the city" and "for the culture," noting that it was one helluva court battle, which began in 2020.
She ended by saying they couldn't be happier and thanking the jurors — who awarded them $17.9 million in compensatory damages and $53.6 million in punitive damages.
Originally Published -- 6:22 AM PT