Wed Sep 25 09:20:23 UTC 2024: ## Toy Company MGA Hit With $71.5 Million Verdict for Infringing on OMG Girlz Brand

**Atlanta, GA –** A federal jury has ruled in favor of teen pop group OMG Girlz, awarding them $71.5 million in damages for trademark infringement and misappropriation by toy giant MGA Entertainment. The verdict comes after a lengthy legal battle that spanned multiple trials.

The dispute centered on MGA’s popular “L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G.” doll line, which OMG Girlz argued shared a strikingly similar name and style with their own brand, including similar clothing designs. The jury ultimately found that certain dolls infringed on OMG Girlz’s “trade dress” and misappropriated their “name, likeness, and identity.”

This marks a significant victory for OMG Girlz, whose members – Zonnique Pullins, Bahja Rodriguez, and Breaunna Womack – have been outspoken about the alleged infringement. “This is for creatives everywhere,” Rodriguez posted on Instagram, celebrating the verdict. “No longer will we be bullied into silence when it comes to others profiting off of our ideas and creativity.”

The legal battle began in 2020 when MGA filed a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment claiming their dolls didn’t violate any of OMG Girlz’s intellectual property rights. However, the group and their representatives, including OMG Girlz member Zonnique Pullins’ mother and stepfather, Tameka “Tiny” Harris and rapper Chris “T.I.” Harris, counter-sued.

While MGA has denied any wrongdoing, the jury’s verdict stands as a strong message about the importance of protecting intellectual property rights, particularly for artists. Attorneys for OMG Girlz praised the group’s courage in taking on a “billion-dollar corporation,” and highlighted the jury’s decision to hold MGA “fully accountable.”

MGA, the company behind other popular toy brands like Bratz and Mini Verse, has yet to comment on the verdict. This case serves as a reminder of the increasing importance of intellectual property protection in the entertainment industry, especially as creative expressions and branding become more complex and intertwined.

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