Current:Home > StocksT.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company -Legacy Profit Partners
T.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company
View
Date:2025-04-16 23:25:05
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! (9)
Related
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Grandparents found hugging one another after fallen tree killed them in their South Carolina home
- Travis Kelce Reacts to Making Chiefs History
- Michael Jordan’s 23XI and a 2nd team sue NASCAR over revenue sharing model
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi Share Behind-the-Scenes Look at Italian Wedding Ceremony
- The Latest: Trio of crises loom over final the campaign’s final stretch
- Savannah Chrisley Says Mom Julie’s Resentencing Case Serves as “Retaliation”
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Outer Banks’ Madison Bailey Hints Characters Will Have “Different Pairings” in Season 4
Ranking
- Bodycam footage shows high
- New York Liberty push defending champion Las Vegas Aces to brink with Game 2 victory
- Rapper Rich Homie Quan's cause of death revealed
- Atlanta rapper Rich Homie Quan died from an accidental drug overdose, medical examiner says
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Justin Theroux Gives Shoutout to “Auntie” Jennifer Aniston in Adorable Photo
- Firefighters battle blaze at Wisconsin railroad tie recycling facility
- Video shows Russian fighter jet in 'unsafe' maneuver just feet from US Air Force F-16
Recommendation
Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
Inside Pauley Perrette's Dramatic Exit From NCIS When She Was the Show's Most Popular Star
Lady Gaga Details Michael Polansky's Sweet Proposal, Shares Wedding Plans
Court says betting on U.S. congressional elections can resume, for now
California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
Kylie Jenner walks the runway wearing princess gown in Paris Fashion Week debut
Lady Gaga Details Michael Polansky's Sweet Proposal, Shares Wedding Plans
Omaha officer followed policy when he fatally shot fleeing man 8 times, police chief says