Atlanta, Georgia – Rapper T.I. and his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, emerged victorious in a lawsuit against toymaker MGA in Atlanta, Georgia. The couple was awarded a staggering $71 million in damages after a jury found that MGA had infringed on the trade dress and likeness rights of the OMG Girlz, a teen pop group created by Tiny and her daughter, Zonnique “Star” Pullins.
The legal battle, which began in 2021, accused MGA of cultural appropriation and theft of intellectual property for creating a line of dolls that closely resembled the OMG Girlz members. The lawsuit included side-by-side images to illustrate the similarities between the dolls and the members of the group. Despite MGA’s claims that the dolls were branded as L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. and would not be confused with the band, the jury ruled in favor of T.I. and Tiny.
After a three-week trial and a day of deliberations, the jury awarded the couple $17.9 million in actual damages and an additional $53.6 million in punitive damages. The couple’s lead attorney, John Keville, commended the jury for holding MGA accountable and praised T.I. and Tiny for standing up for their children against a corporate entity.
This victory comes after two previous trials, one ending in a mistrial and the other in a verdict in favor of MGA, which was later overturned on appeal. Following the successful outcome of the third trial, Tiny expressed relief and gratitude towards the jurors for believing in their case. The members of the OMG Girlz also celebrated the verdict, hoping it serves as a warning to companies about the consequences of infringing on artists’ intellectual property.
While MGA still has the option to appeal the verdict and the damages awarded, T.I. and Tiny’s win marks a significant milestone in their fight for justice and protection of their creative work. The outcome of this high-profile case underscores the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and holding accountable those who unlawfully appropriate others’ creations.