Current:Home > ContactT.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company -FinTechWorld
T.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company
View
Date:2025-04-16 03:28:02
T.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris are celebrating a victory.
The "Live Your Life" rapper and his wife of 14 years were awarded $71 million on Sept. 23 after winning their third court trial against toy giant MGA Entertainment, which was accused of violating the intellectual property rights of the couple's music group the OMG Girlz with their L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls.
"We were proud to represent the OMG Girlz, Tiny, and T.I.," their lawyer told E! News in a Sept. 24 statement, "who had the courage to stand up for themselves and fight a billion-dollar corporation's intimidation and insults with grace, perseverance, and a determination to protect their intellectual property and the rights of other creatives."
The statement added that thanks to T.I. and Tiny's determination, "a remarkable jury did the fair, just and right thing by holding MGA Entertainment fully accountable for trade dress infringement and for misappropriation of name, likeness, and identity."
E! News has reached out to MGA's lawyer for comment but hasn't heard back.
Jurors awarded T.I., 43, and Tiny, 49, (real names Clifford Joseph Harris and Tameka Dianne Cottle-Harris) $17.9 million in real damages and $53.6 million in punitive damages following the three-week trial in Santa Ana, Calif.
In their verdict, jurors said that 13 L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls had "infringed on the trade dress and misappropriated the name, image, and likeness" of T.I. and Tiny's OMG Girlz band, according to Rolling Stone. They also found that a 14th doll violated the group's trade dress, while a 15th misappropriated the band's name, image and likeness.
T.I. and Tiny had started OMG Girlz in 2009, with the girl group consisting of Zonnique "Star" Pullins (Tiny's daughter), Bahja "Beauty" Rodriguez and Breaunna "Babydoll" Womack.
During the trial, T.I. and Tiny—who are also parents to children Clifford, 18, Major, 16, and Heiress, 8—alleged that seven of MGA's dolls copied the OMG Girlz looks at "very specific public events or in publicized photos," per Rolling Stone. MGA's founder Isaac Larian had testified during the court proceedings that the group played no role in the look of the dolls, calling them "extortionists."
Following the verdict, Tiny and T.I. were elated over the jury's decision.
"I mean, wow. They did more than I thought they would," Tiny told Rolling Stone. "I would have been happy with whatever. They blessed us more than beyond. We wanted to thank the jurors so bad, but we didn't get the opportunity."
T.I. added, "I think justice was served. I think it's a testament to the relentlessness and resilience of my wife, daughter and nieces. We're just happy we were able to come out on top and fight for creatives and our intellectual property that large corporations seem to think is just public domain and free for all to come and grab and use."
Tiny also shared her excitement on Instagram, writing Sept. 23, "Man we may look crazy cause we been crying tears of joy!! We are so Grateful God. Thank you so much to the jurors first & foremost! We wanted to thank you in person but u guys were gone. To our amazing dream team u guys killed it!! We owe u everything!"
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (3277)
Related
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- John Mayall, Godfather of British Blues, dies at 90 amid 'health issues'
- Massachusetts bill would require businesses to disclose salary range when posting a job
- Man shot and killed after grabbing for officer’s gun during struggle in suburban Denver, police say
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- BETA GLOBAL FINANCE: Leading the Wave of Decentralized Financial Innovation
- Whale Throwing 2 New Hampshire Men Overboard in Freak Accident Has Internet Flipping Out
- BMW recalls over 290k vehicles due to an interior cargo rail that could detach in a crash
- Rolling Loud 2024: Lineup, how to stream the world's largest hip hop music festival
- A new fossil shows an animal unlike any we've seen before. And it looks like a taco.
Ranking
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Where to watch women's Olympic basketball? Broadcast, streaming schedule for Paris Games
- Billy Ray Cyrus Tells Ex Firerose “See You in Court” After Release of Shocking Argument
- 'How dare you invite this criminal': DC crowds blast Netanyahu before address
- Average rate on 30
- Harris plans to continue to build presidential momentum in speech to teachers union
- Wind farms’ benefits to communities can be slow or complex, leading to opposition and misinformation
- Judge’s ruling temporarily allows for unlicensed Native Hawaiian midwifery
Recommendation
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
Lowe's 'releasing the kraken' with Halloween 2024 'Haunted Harbor' collection
Halle Berry Goes Topless in Risqué Photo With Kittens for Catwoman's 20th Anniversary
Falsehoods about Kamala Harris' citizenship status, racial identity resurface online as she becomes likely Democratic nominee
Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
Christina Hall's Ex Josh Hall Returns to Social Media After Divorce Filing
Prince William's Royally Shocking 2023 Salary Revealed
Olympic swimmers to watch: These 9 could give Team USA run for the money