Current:Home > ScamsT.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company -Zenith Money Vision
T.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company
View
Date:2025-04-16 19:59:23
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! (3)
Related
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- 'Tiger King' star pleads guilty to conspiring to money laundering, breaking federal law
- Inside Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's Road to Baby Boy
- Russia finalizes pullout from Cold War-era treaty and blames US and its allies for treaty’s collapse
- Can Bill Belichick turn North Carolina into a winner? At 72, he's chasing one last high
- Israelis overwhelmingly are confident in the justice of the Gaza war, even as world sentiment sours
- Militants kill 11 farmers in Nigeria’s north, raising fresh concerns about food supplies
- Dawn Staley gets love from Deion Sanders as South Carolina women's basketball plays in Paris
- US appeals court rejects Nasdaq’s diversity rules for company boards
- Barbra Streisand details how her battle with stage fright dates back to experience in Funny Girl
Ranking
- Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
- A year after 2022 elections, former House Jan. 6 panel members warn of Trump and 2024 danger
- Car dealer agrees to refunds after allegations of discrimination against Native Americans
- Live updates | Netanyahu says Israel will have ‘overall security responsibility’ in Gaza after war
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- Hezbollah and Hamas’ military wings in Lebanon exchange fire with Israel. Tension rises along border
- 'Dancing With the Stars' to honor Taylor Swift with a night of 'celebration'
- Golden State Warriors to host 2025 NBA All-Star Game at Chase Center
Recommendation
Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
New Edition announces 2024 Las Vegas residency, teases new music: 'It makes sense'
5 Things podcast: How can we cultivate happiness in our lives?
Sudan’s military conflict is getting closer to South Sudan and Abyei, UN envoy warns
Man can't find second winning lottery ticket, sues over $394 million jackpot, lawsuit says
Landlord upset over unpaid rent accused of setting apartment on fire while tenants were inside
Why Pregnant Kailyn Lowry Is “Hesitant” to Get Engaged to Elijah Scott
Stock market today: Asian shares are mostly lower as Australia’s central bank raises its key rate