In a significant legal victory, rapper T.I. (Clifford Harris Jr.) and his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, have been awarded $71 million in a lawsuit against MGA Entertainment, the company behind the popular L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls. The couple alleged that MGA Entertainment infringed upon the likeness and intellectual property of their music group, the OMG Girlz, by producing dolls that closely resembled the group’s image and style.
The OMG Girlz, a teen pop group formed in 2009 by Tiny Harris, included members Zonnique Pullins (Tiny’s daughter), Bahja Rodriguez, and Breaunna Womack. The lawsuit claimed that MGA’s dolls not only shared a similar name but also mimicked the group’s distinctive fashion and appearance, leading to more than a dozen instances of trademark infringement.
After a legal battle that began in 2020, a federal jury in California sided with the Harris family, awarding them $17.9 million in compensatory damages and $53.6 million in punitive damages, totaling $71.5 million. This verdict underscores the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and serves as a precedent for artists seeking to safeguard their creative expressions.
Tiny Harris expressed her gratitude on social media, thanking the jurors for believing in their case and highlighting the significance of the victory for creators and the broader culture. She emphasized the couple’s commitment to defending their intellectual property and the legacy of the OMG Girlz.
MGA Entertainment’s founder, Isaac Larian, denied the allegations throughout the trial, labeling the lawsuit as an act of extortion. Despite these denials, the jury found sufficient evidence to support the Harris family’s claims of misappropriation and infringement.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges artists face in protecting their creative works from unauthorized use and the potential for significant legal recourse when intellectual property rights are violated. The Harris family’s victory serves as a reminder of the value of artistic expression and the legal protections afforded to creators in the entertainment industry.