Rapper T.I. and his wife, singer Tameka ‘Tiny’ Harris, have scored a massive legal victory after being awarded $71 million in damages from a lawsuit against MGA Entertainment, the company behind the popular LOL Surprise! OMG dolls.
According to Forbes, the couple sued the toy giant, claiming that the dolls infringed upon the likeness and intellectual property of their teen pop group, OMG Girlz.
The legal battle, which took place in California, centred around seven dolls in the OMG line that were said to resemble members of the group, including Tiny’s daughter, Star, who testified during the trial. This marked the couple’s third attempt to sue MGA for what they believed was a blatant copying of the OMG Girlz’s unique look and style.
The court’s decision is a significant win for T.I. and Tiny, who have long fought to protect the creative work of their family and group members. The verdict not only grants them a substantial financial award but also sends a message about the importance of safeguarding intellectual property, especially for creatives.
Following the court ruling, the couple expressed their satisfaction, with Tiny noting that the victory was personal and for the culture as a whole. T.I. also emphasized that their fight was about standing up for their rights and preventing large corporations from taking advantage of smaller creators.
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Despite MGA Entertainment’s attempts to dismiss the lawsuit and cast the couple in a negative light, the court sided with the Harris family, acknowledging the similarities between the dolls and the OMG Girlz. MGA had repeatedly denied any wrongdoing throughout the case and labeled the couple’s legal actions as extortion.
Currently, MGA Entertainment has not issued a public statement in response to the court’s decision.
