T.I. and Tiny Secure $71 Million Victory in OMG Girlz Doll Trial
Hip-hop mogul T.I. and his wife Tameka "Tiny" Harris have triumphed in a major lawsuit, winning a massive $71 million jury award after a lengthy legal battle over MGA Entertainment's "L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G." dolls. The case revolved around the couple's claims that the dolls copied the likeness, trade dress, and overall style of the OMG Girlz, a teen girl group founded by Tiny Harris in 2009. After multiple trials, the jury ultimately sided with T.I. and Tiny, awarding them $17.9 million in real damages and an additional $53.6 million in punitive damages.
The legal proceedings unfolded over several years, with MGA Entertainment, the toymaker behind the popular doll line, denying any infringement. However, the jury determined that 13 dolls specifically misappropriated the OMG Girlz’s name, image, and likeness. During the trial, T.I. and Tiny highlighted how the dolls bore striking similarities to the distinct looks the OMG Girlz had worn at various public appearances, including concerts and promotional photos.
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T.I. expressed his satisfaction with the verdict, saying, "Justice was served. This win isn’t just for us, but for all creators who see their work taken by big corporations without acknowledgment." He emphasized that large companies often treat intellectual property as free for the taking, disregarding the hard work of artists and creators. Tiny echoed his sentiments, saying, "At the end of the day, the evidence was clear—they stole from us. I’m glad we stuck with it."
Throughout the trial, MGA tried to frame the lawsuit as a "money grab," but the jury’s decision underscored that the case was far more than that. It became a fight for creative ownership and intellectual property rights, with the Harris family standing up for the rights of smaller artists in the face of a powerful corporation. The verdict is not just a victory for T.I., Tiny, and the OMG Girlz, but also sets a precedent for how intellectual property cases, especially those involving artists and creatives, might be handled in the future.
The case saw its share of dramatic moments. Pullins, Rodriguez, and Womack—members of the OMG Girlz—attended the trial, testifying and expressing their relief and joy after the verdict was announced. This win came after a long journey, with two previous trials leading to a mistrial and a brief win for MGA before the case was retried.
In the end, this victory represents a significant moment in the ongoing battle over creative rights, shining a light on the importance of protecting intellectual property in a world where large corporations often dominate. T.I. and Tiny's persistence paid off, and their $71 million victory serves as a powerful statement on the value of artistic integrity.
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