Current:Home > InvestT.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company -WealthMindset Learning
T.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company
View
Date:2025-04-11 19:26:12
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! (43873)
Related
- JoJo Siwa reflects on Candace Cameron Bure feud: 'If I saw her, I would not say hi'
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Monkey in the Middle
- Wildfire forces Alaska’s Denali National Park to temporarily close entrance
- How Erin Andrews' Cancer and Fertility Journey Changed Her Relationship With Husband Jarret Stoll
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Small plane with 5 on board crashes in upstate New York. No word on fate of passengers
- Usher honored with BET Lifetime Achievement Award: 'Is it too early for me to receive it?'
- See Travis Kelce Celebrate Taylor Swift Backstage at the Eras Tour in Dublin
- Paris Olympics live updates: Quincy Hall wins 400m thriller; USA women's hoops in action
- Mets OF Brandon Nimmo sits out against Nationals after fainting in hotel room and cutting forehead
Ranking
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- Texas man dies while hiking at Grand Canyon National Park, authorities say
- AP PHOTOS: Parties, protests and parades mark a vibrant Pride around the world
- Beryl strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic as it bears down on Caribbean
- Residents in Alaska capital clean up swamped homes after an ice dam burst and unleashed a flood
- New clerk sworn in to head troubled county courthouse recordkeeping office in Harrisburg
- Voters kick all the Republican women out of the South Carolina Senate
- Connie the container dog dies months after Texas rescue: 'She was such a fighter'
Recommendation
Residents worried after ceiling cracks appear following reroofing works at Jalan Tenaga HDB blocks
Horoscopes Today, June 30, 2024
Sophia Bush, Cynthia Erivo and More Show Amber Ruffin Love After She Comes Out During Pride Month
MLB power rankings: Braves have chance to make good on NL East plan
Tony Hawk drops in on Paris skateboarding and pushes for more styles of sport in LA 2028
Paris' Seine River tests for E. coli 10 times above acceptable limit a month out from 2024 Summer Olympics
Redbox owner Chicken Soup for the Soul files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
After 32 years as a progressive voice for LGBTQ Jews, Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum heads into retirement