T.I. & Tiny's $71M Win: OMG Girlz Vs. LOL Dolls Lawsuit?!
Can a toy company truly steal a look? The answer, according to a jury, is a resounding yes, and the consequences can be incredibly costly.
The legal battle between Tameka "Tiny" Harris, her husband T.I., and the toy giant MGA Entertainment has been a saga of intellectual property, cultural appropriation, and ultimately, a multi-million dollar verdict. The heart of the matter? The likeness of the OMG Girlz, a group Tiny formed in 2009, and its alleged appropriation by MGA Entertainment in their L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. doll line. The case has taken numerous twists and turns, with initial wins, appeals, and even counter-accusations, making it a complex and fascinating study in the world of entertainment law.
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tameka "Tiny" Cottle-Harris |
| Birth Date | July 14, 1975 |
| Age | 49 (as of November 2024) |
| Birth Place | College Park, Georgia, USA |
| Occupation | Singer, Songwriter, Businesswoman, Reality Television Personality |
| Spouse | Clifford "T.I." Harris (Married in 2010) |
| Children | Zonnique Jailee Pullins, Messiah Ya'Majesty Harris, Domani Uriah Harris, Deyjah Imani Harris, King Harris, Major Philant Harris, Heiress Diana Harris |
| Musical Group | Xscape |
| Other Notable Ventures | OMG Girlz (founder), Reality TV Shows ("T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle," "Tiny & Toya") |
| Key Lawsuit | Tameka Harris v. MGA Entertainment (Intellectual Property, Trademark Infringement) |
| Website | officialtinyharris.com |
The drama began in 2020 when MGA Entertainment, the parent company of Little Tikes and Bratz, filed a lawsuit seeking a declaratory judgment regarding its L.O.L. Surprise! dolls. However, this initial action triggered a series of counterclaims, most notably from Tiny, T.I., and their legal team. Tiny specifically alleged in a 2021 counterclaim that MGA Entertainment had directly lifted the looks and overall aesthetic for its O.M.G. fashion dolls from the OMG Girlz, the musical group she masterminded back in 2009.
This wasn't simply a matter of similar hairstyles or fashion choices; Tiny's legal team argued that the entire concept, brand identity, and visual presentation of the OMG Girlz had been deliberately copied. The OMG Girlz, known for their vibrant, youthful image and multicultural representation, had cultivated a distinct style that resonated with a young audience. The claim was that MGA Entertainment saw this success and sought to capitalize on it by creating dolls that were, in essence, a direct imitation.
Fast forward to recent months, and the case culminated in a significant victory for Tiny. A jury awarded her a staggering $71 million in total damages, a testament to the strength of her legal arguments and the perceived validity of her claims. According to reports from Rolling Stone and other media outlets, the core of the couple's case rested on the assertion that MGA's L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. line of dolls directly violated their intellectual property rights. The resemblance, they argued, was undeniable and constituted a clear infringement on the unique brand and image they had painstakingly built.
However, the legal landscape is rarely straightforward. The initial $71 million victory is now facing scrutiny. A federal judge is currently reconsidering the damages awarded, potentially reducing the payout from $71.4 million to a significantly lower $17 million. This development introduces a new layer of complexity to the case, highlighting the challenges of proving damages in intellectual property disputes. While the jury agreed that infringement occurred, quantifying the precise financial impact is proving to be a more nuanced and contested issue.
This isn't the first time T.I. and Tiny have pursued legal action regarding these dolls. The current lawsuit is, in fact, the third attempt to sue MGA Entertainment, alleging that the company stole the look of a group of "young multicultural women" and engaged in cultural appropriation. These previous attempts, while perhaps not resulting in the same level of monetary success, underscore the couple's persistent belief that their intellectual property has been violated.
The implications of this case extend beyond the immediate financial gains or losses. It raises fundamental questions about the protection of intellectual property in the entertainment industry, particularly when it comes to brand identity and visual style. Can a company trademark a "look"? How far does copyright protection extend? These are the types of questions that this lawsuit has brought to the forefront.
Tiny Harris, undeterred by the ongoing legal wrangling, has publicly urged the toy giant to "play ball," suggesting a desire for a resolution that goes beyond simply monetary compensation. What that resolution might entail remains to be seen, but it could involve changes to the design or marketing of the L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls to further differentiate them from the OMG Girlz's image. It could also involve a more formal acknowledgment of the OMG Girlz's influence or contribution to the broader cultural landscape.
Adding another layer of intrigue to the story, MGA Entertainment is reportedly appealing the judgment to the 9th Circuit. This means that the $71.4 million payout is currently on hold, pending the outcome of the appeal. The legal battle is far from over, and the ultimate resolution could take months, if not years, to reach.
Outside the courthouse, after securing the initial $71 million victory, Tiny expressed her gratitude to her legal team, specifically mentioning John Keville, Chante Westmoreland, Robert Green, and BIvory Lamarr. She emphasized that "at the end of the day, the evidence showed [MGA] stole from us," underscoring her conviction in the legitimacy of her claims.
The lawsuit filed by MGA Entertainment in 2020 sought a declaratory judgment, essentially asking the court to declare that their dolls did not infringe on any existing intellectual property rights. This preemptive move, however, backfired spectacularly, opening the door for Tiny and T.I. to mount their own counteroffensive.
Joyce Lupiani, in an article updated on February 4, 2025, from Atlanta, provides further details on the case's timeline and key arguments. T.I., whose given name is Clifford Harris, and Tiny, whose given name is Tameka Cottle-Harris, have consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with the allegations of sexual abuse that have surfaced in parallel lawsuits. They have characterized these allegations as "fake" and suggested that the lawsuits amount to "extortionate demands," as stated in a statement to USA Today.
The legal documents reveal that MGA Entertainment is actively pursuing an appeal of the judgment to the 9th Circuit, which means the $71.4 million award remains on hold for the time being. The courtroom drama is far from over, and the final outcome remains uncertain.
In September 2024, T.I. and Tiny Harris secured a major legal victory in this long-running dispute. The couple initiated the legal showdown after they observed what they believed to be striking similarities between the OMG Girlz's image and MGA's L.O.L. Surprise! dolls.
Adding another layer of complexity, a separate lawsuit has been filed against the couple, accusing them of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 2005. This lawsuit, filed under California's Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, introduces a completely different set of legal challenges for T.I. and Tiny, unrelated to the intellectual property dispute with MGA Entertainment. The law allows for civil suits in cases of sexual assault that had previously fallen outside the statute of limitations.
Furthermore, a judge has ruled that Peterson must pay $96,703 to cover T.I. and Tinys legal fees for their motion, adding another dimension to the various legal battles the couple is currently facing.
The dispute centers on the claim that MGA Entertainment issued dolls with designs and names that were suspiciously similar to the OMG Girlz, directly infringing on the group's intellectual property.
The initial victory saw Tiny win $17.8 million in profits derived from seven of the allegedly infringing dolls. However, this amount is now being reconsidered by a judge, potentially leading to a significant reduction in the final award.
The legal battle has been multifaceted, involving claims of trademark infringement, intellectual property theft, and cultural appropriation. The central argument has been that MGA Entertainment deliberately copied the look and feel of the OMG Girlz in their L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. doll line.
The photographs of T.I. and Tiny at the Los Angeles premiere of Entourage on June 1, 2015, serve as a reminder of their public presence and ongoing careers amidst these legal challenges. The Associated Press (AP) photo captures a moment in time, juxtaposed against the backdrop of the complex legal battles they are currently navigating.
The question of how much T.I. and Tiny will ultimately receive in their lawsuit remains unanswered. The legal process is ongoing, and the final outcome is still subject to change, depending on the judge's reconsideration of damages and the potential appeal by MGA Entertainment.
A federal judge is now actively considering slashing T.I. and Tiny Harris lucrative payout against the doll line L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G., potentially reducing it from $71.4 million to $17 million. This represents a major development in the case and highlights the uncertainty that still surrounds the final financial outcome.
Ultimately, the case of T.I. and Tiny Harris versus MGA Entertainment serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of protecting intellectual property and the potential consequences of alleged infringement. It also demonstrates the complexities of entertainment law and the often-protracted nature of legal battles in the industry.
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