L.O.L. vs O.M.G.; The $71 Million Dollar Lawsuit
The lawsuit contended that MGA Entertainment's doll collection unlawfully appropriated the image of a former girl group once managed by T.I. and Tiny
Following an extensive three-week trial, a federal jury in Orange County, California, rendered a verdict against toy giant MGA Entertainment, concluding that the company had indeed infringed upon the intellectual property rights of the former girl group OMG Girlz, with seven of its dolls. The ruling came after vigorous arguments from the legal team representing hip-hop couple T.I. and Tiny, who accused MGA of "bullying and misrepresentations" throughout the dispute. The jury awarded substantial damages to the couple, amounting to $17.8 million in compensatory damages, reflecting the profits MGA Entertainment acknowledged earning from the disputed dolls. In addition, the court imposed $53.6 million in punitive damages, bringing the total to an impressive $71 million.
During the trial, the three founding members of the OMG Girlz—Zonnique “Star” Pullins, Bahja "Beauty" Rodriguez, and Breaunna "Babydoll" Womack—testified, asserting that the dolls in question mimicked their distinctive appearances from specific public events. The plaintiffs’ legal team bolstered their case by presenting social media posts from fans who independently remarked on the striking resemblance between the dolls and the band members, with many assuming that the group inspired the dolls.
MGA contended that the company had not misappropriated the identity of the OMG Girlz, arguing that the dolls would not reasonably be confused with the "short-lived" music group, which disbanded in 2015. Moreover, MGA asserted that the group had not suffered any tangible harm or lost business opportunities due to the dolls’ existence, challenging the basis for the plaintiffs' claims of infringement and damages. The defense sought to diminish the plaintiffs' assertions by emphasizing the temporal distance between the band's dissolution and the release of the dolls and the absence of demonstrable negative impacts on the group’s legacy or potential commercial ventures.
This recent lawsuit marks the third legal attempt by T.I. and Tiny to challenge MGA Entertainment over the dolls, alleging that the company unlawfully appropriated the image and style of a group of "young multicultural women," thereby engaging in "cultural appropriation and outright theft." The protracted legal battle has seen varied outcomes: the first case resulted in a mistrial, while the second initially concluded in MGA’s favor before the verdict was overturned on appeal. The plaintiffs have consistently argued that the dolls exploit the cultural identity and distinctive aesthetics of the OMG Girlz, underscoring their persistent efforts to seek justice for what they view as a flagrant violation of their intellectual property and cultural heritage.
The unanimous verdict determined that all seven of the specific dolls presented in court, from a broader collection of 32, unlawfully replicated the likeness and trade dress of the Atlanta-based group. While the jury did not find that all of the remaining dolls constituted infringement, it was noted that some of these other dolls were found to have copied the likeness of high-profile artists such as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.
Following the ruling, Tiny expressed her astonishment and gratitude in an interview with Rolling Stone, reflecting on the jury's decision. "I mean, wow. They did more than I thought they would," she remarked. "I would have been happy with whatever. They blessed us more than beyond." Tiny also mentioned a lingering wish: "We wanted to thank the jurors but didn’t get the opportunity."
Despite being inactive for several years, the OMG Girlz recently made a notable return. Just recently, the original trio reunited to talk about new music and unveiled the music video for their track "Motion."