SANTA ANA, Calif. — In a significant legal victory, rapper T.I. and his wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris were awarded $71 million by a jury on Monday in their lawsuit against toy giant MGA Entertainment. The verdict concluded that MGA had infringed on the intellectual property rights of their formed musical group, OMG Girlz, through the company’s “L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G.” dolls collection.
The jury decided on $17.9 million in compensatory damages and an additional $53.6 million in punitive damages after a three-week trial in a federal court. Jurors identified 15 dolls that they found had copied the group’s style and image.
Reacting to the verdict, Tiny shared her overwhelming gratitude for the jury’s decision, expressing satisfaction beyond their expectations. She regretted missing the chance to thank the jurors personally.
T.I., reaching out by phone shortly after the verdict, emphasized that the decision was a validation of their relentless pursuit to protect their intellectual property. He interpreted the victory as reflective of a broader defense of creative rights against corporate dominance.
During the court proceedings, accusations flew from both sides. MGA’s defense termed the lawsuit a “money grab,” a claim firmly rejected by the jury. T.I. termed MGA’s legal strategy as an attempt to deflect blame by undermining their legitimate grievances.
The trial spotlighted the characteristics of specific dolls marketed by MGA that bore striking resemblances to the appearances of the OMG Girlz at certain public events and in media. MGA’s founder, Isaac Larian, insisted in his testimony that the trio from OMG Girlz—Pullins, Rodriguez, and Womack—had no influence on the doll designs, dismissing their claims as extortionate.
Supporting the couple’s stance, the plaintiffs provided testimonials and social media posts from the public and four consumers who believed the dolls were associated with OMG Girlz. The testimonies helped clarify the extent of market confusion and the perceived copying of the group’s signature images.
In his closing arguments, John Keville, representing T.I. and Tiny, pressed the jury on the implications of a corporation using its power to overbear cultural expressions and identities for commercial gains. The defense, however, maintained that the doll designs were original, highlighting the absence of direct complaints linking the dolls to the pop group, thus claiming the allegations were unfounded.
The complex legal battle had seen two prior trials involving some of the same evidence but concluded differently each time. This third trial, influenced by recent Supreme Court decisions emphasizing the weight of consumer confusion in copyright cases, provided a fresh perspective that arguably favored the plaintiffs.
True to the vital issue at the heart of the controversy, T.I. focused on specific dolls during his testimony, providing side-by-side comparisons to illustrate the alleged infringements clearly. This strategy underscored his commitment to highlighting the most blatant misappropriations to underline the depth of the intellectual theft.
As the trial wrapped up, the legal victory marked a profound affirming moment for T.I. and Tiny, symbolizing not just a personal win but a beacon of hope for creatives striving to protect their intellectual outcomes against industrial giants in the fraught intersections of copyright law and corporate interest.