T.I. and Tameka “Tiny” Harris have scored a major win in their long-running lawsuit against MGA Entertainment, claiming the company infringed on the intellectual property rights of their music group, the OMG Girlz, through its L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls.
After years of legal battles, the verdict, delivered on September 23, awarded the couple a staggering $71 million.
In an emotional Instagram Live outside a federal courthouse in Santa Ana, California, Tiny expressed her joy over the outcome.
“We did this for the city. We did this for the culture,” she said.
Reflecting on the arduous journey since the case began in 2020, she added, “It was a fight. It was a hell of a fight. We couldn’t be more happy.”
Tiny took a moment to thank the jurors for their unanimous decision, stating, “They heard our story and they knew we wasn’t lying. It’s amazing.”
Speaking to Rolling Stone, she shared her surprise at the jury’s decision, which included $53.6 million in punitive damages.
“I mean, wow. They did more than I thought they would,” she said, expressing gratitude for their support.
The jury found that over a dozen L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls infringed on the trade dress and misappropriated the name, image, and likeness of the OMG Girlz, a group formed in 2009 featuring Bahja Rodriguez, Breaunna Womack, and Tiny’s daughter, Zonnique Pullins.
In the lead-up to the trial, Tiny had repeatedly called attention to the striking similarities between the dolls and the group’s iconic style, even posting side-by-side comparisons on Instagram.
“Do these dolls look familiar?” she wrote, showcasing the girls in outfits that closely resembled those of the dolls.
“1 of many but biggest custom outfit in questioned! @omggirlz vs #OMGDolls last wk of court! God willing the truth will prevail!!!”
Throughout the three-week trial, Rodriguez, Pullins, and Womack testified about the similarities between the dolls and the OMG Girlz’s signature looks, including outfits worn during significant public appearances.
“I’m so grateful and overwhelmed with joy,” Womack told Rolling Stone, while Pullins shared an emotional moment when asked if they had a memorable trade dress.
T.I. also weighed in, describing MGA’s lawyers as using “bully tactics” and painting the couple as the “bad guys” in the situation.
“They were the ones that came and ripped us off, and [they] expected us to not have the audacity to stand up and speak for ourselves,” he said, criticizing MGA founder Isaac Larian’s portrayal of them as “extortionists” during the trial.
With their significant victory, T.I. and Tiny have not only vindicated their artistic contributions but also highlighted the importance of standing up for intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry.
Congratulations!
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