Current:Home > StocksT.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company -MoneyMentor
T.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company
View
Date:2025-04-18 05:03:22
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! (467)
Related
- Paula Abdul settles lawsuit with former 'So You Think You Can Dance' co
- One Direction's Liam Payne Praises Girlfriend Kate Cassidy for Being Covered Up for Once
- Trucking company owner pleads guilty to charges related to crash that killed 7 bikers
- Michael Bolton says 'all is good' after fan spots police cars at singer's Connecticut home
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- Laci Peterson murder case revisited, Scott speaks in dueling documentaries
- It Ends With Us’ Justin Baldoni Hires Crisis PR Manager Amid Feud Rumors
- Cisco cuts thousands of jobs, 7% of workforce, as it shifts focus to AI, cybersecurity
- San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo
- Olympic gymnastics scoring controversy: Court of Arbitration for Sport erred during appeal
Ranking
- Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
- You Have 1 Day Left to Shop Lands' End's Huge Summer Sale: $10 Dresses, $14 Totes & More Up to 85% Off
- 1 person injured in shooting at North Carolina mall, police say
- Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran Wax Figures Revealed and Fans Weren't Ready For It
- 'Most Whopper
- More than 2,300 pounds of meth is found hidden in celery at Georgia farmers market
- The Latest: Trump to hold rally in North Carolina; Harris campaign launches $90M ad buy
- Motorcyclist pleads guilty to vehicular homicide and gets 17 years for Georgia state trooper’s death
Recommendation
Jamie Foxx reps say actor was hit in face by a glass at birthday dinner, needed stitches
How Kristin Cavallari’s Kids Really Feel About Her Boyfriend Mark Estes
1 person injured in shooting at North Carolina mall, police say
Real Housewives of Miami's Julia Lemigova and Wife Martina Navratilova Have Adopted Two Sons
Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
White Florida woman says she fatally shot Black neighbor amid fear for her own life
Texas father gave infant daughter gasoline because he wanted her dead: Police
December execution date set for man convicted of killing a young Missouri girl