Current:Home > ScamsT.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company -Elevate Profit Vision
T.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company
View
Date:2025-04-15 20:40:19
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! (14482)
Related
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
- Another Major Heat Wave Is Bringing Triple-Digit Temps To The Pacific Northwest
- The Federal Government Sells Flood-Prone Homes To Often Unsuspecting Buyers, NPR Finds
- Gina Rodriguez Reveals Name of Her and Joe Locicero's Baby Boy
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- Pregnant Jessie J Claps Back at Haters Calling Her Naked Photo “Inappropriate”
- See Gossip Girl Alum Taylor Momsen's OMG-Worthy Return to the Steps of the Met
- Climate Change In California Is Threatening The World's Top Almond Producer
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Emmy Rossum Gives Birth, Privately Welcomes Baby No. 2 With Sam Esmail
Ranking
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- The Masked Singer: Heavy Metal Legend Gets Unmasked as The Doll
- Police fatally shoot 17-year-old delivery driver, sparking condemnation by French president: Inexplicable and inexcusable
- Water's Cheap... Should It Be?
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Get These $68 Lululemon Shorts for $39, a $58 Tank Top for $29, an $88 Top for $39, and More Must-Haves
- No direct evidence COVID began in Wuhan lab, US intelligence report says
- Outdoor Workers Could Face Far More Dangerous Heat By 2065 Because Of Climate Change
Recommendation
How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
Amanda Little: What Is The Future Of Our Food?
Record-Breaking Flooding In China Has Left Over One Million People Displaced
Climate Change In California Is Threatening The World's Top Almond Producer
Head of the Federal Aviation Administration to resign, allowing Trump to pick his successor
Woman loses leg after getting it trapped in Bangkok airport's moving walkway
Why Kelly Ripa Says She and Mark Consuelos Are Taking a Vow of Chastity
Ahead Of Climate Talks, China Vows To Stop Building Coal Power Plants Abroad