A federal jury has ruled that toy manufacturer MGA Entertainment must pay $71.5 million in damages for infringing on the name and likeness of the teen pop group OMG Girlz with its “L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G.” doll line.
This verdict marks a significant victory for OMG Girlz, along with Xscape singer Tameka “Tiny” Harris and rapper Chris “T.I.” Harris, in an ongoing intellectual property dispute with the California company. The jury found that the dolls not only bore a similar name but also resembled the group’s style and clothing, violating their “trade dress” and appropriating their identity.
Of the awarded damages, $17.9 million is for actual damages, while $53.6 million is punitive. Zonnique Pullins, a member of OMG Girlz and Tiny’s daughter, celebrated the ruling on Instagram, stating, “This is for creatives everywhere,” and asserting that they will no longer be silenced by larger corporations profiting from their ideas.
The battle began in 2020 when MGA sought a declaratory judgment claiming that its dolls did not violate OMG Girlz’s intellectual property rights after the group issued a cease-and-desist. A previous trial ended in mistrial, while the second favored MGA, but OMG Girlz later secured a retrial.
Neither MGA, known for its other brands like Bratz and Mini Verse, nor its attorneys responded immediately to requests for comment following the verdict. However, lawyers representing OMG Girlz expressed admiration for the group’s resilience, emphasizing the importance of holding MGA accountable for its actions.
