OMG Girlz Pop Group receives $71 million settlement for dolls that infringed on their image and name | US News
A toy company has been ordered to pay $71.5m (£53m) for producing dolls that infringed on the name and likeness of a US teen pop group.
OMG Girlz filed a lawsuit against MGA Entertainment over its LOL Surprise! OMG dolls, alleging that the company had copied their appearance and brand.
After a lengthy legal battle, a California jury ruled in favor of the group on Tuesday, finding that their “trade dress” and “name, likeness, and identity” had been unlawfully used. They were awarded $17.9m (£13.3m) in actual damages and $53.6m (£39.9m) in punitive damages.
The damages will be divided among the group’s three members – Zonnique Pullins, Bahja Rodriguez, and Breaunna Womack – as well as Pullins’ mother and stepfather, Tameka ‘Tiny Harris’ and Chris T.I. Harris.
OMG Girlz, who formed in 2009 and have 232,000 Instagram followers, celebrated the victory on social media.
“This is a win for all creatives,” Rodriguez wrote.
“We will no longer tolerate others profiting from our ideas and creativity without our consent.”
The legal dispute began in 2020 when MGA challenged a cease-and-desist letter from the group.
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Counter claims were filed and the initial trial began in January 2023, but it was later declared a mistrial.
MGA Entertainment won a second trial, but OMG Girlz successfully appealed and brought it to a third court showdown.
The toy company consistently denied the allegations.
During closing arguments, their attorney reportedly dismissed the claim as “baseless and offensive,” stating that over 40 million dolls had been sold without any confusion among consumers.
