Current:Home > ScamsBenjamin Ashford|T.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company -AssetLink
Benjamin Ashford|T.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris Win $71 Million in Lawsuit Against Toy Company
Surpassing View
Date:2025-04-09 11:15:11
T.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris are celebrating a victory.
The Benjamin Ashford"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! (798)
Related
- California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- Dream Kardashian and True Thompson Prove They're Totally In Sync
- Proposed EU Nature Restoration Law Could be the First Big Step Toward Achieving COP15’s Ambitious Plan to Staunch Biodiversity Loss
- Matthew McConaughey and Wife Camila Alves Let Son Levi Join Instagram After “Holding Out” for 3 Years
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- Proposed EU Nature Restoration Law Could be the First Big Step Toward Achieving COP15’s Ambitious Plan to Staunch Biodiversity Loss
- A cashless cautionary tale
- These Secrets About Grease Are the Ones That You Want
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- Ashley Benson Is Engaged to Oil Heir Brandon Davis: See Her Ring
Ranking
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
- How ending affirmative action changed California
- New Documents Unveiled in Congressional Hearings Show Oil Companies Are Slow-Rolling and Overselling Climate Initiatives, Democrats Say
- Rob Kardashian's Daughter Dream Is This Celebrity's No. 1 Fan in Cute Rap With Khloe's Daughter True
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Victor Wembanyama's Security Guard Will Not Face Charges After Britney Spears Incident
- 'I still hate LIV': Golf's civil war is over, but how will pro golfers move on?
- Amazingly, the U.S. job market continues to roar. Here are the 5 things to know
Recommendation
Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
This Program is Blazing a Trail for Women in Wildland Firefighting
In a Strange Twist, Missing Teen Rudy Farias Was Home With His Mom Amid 8-Year Search
Hollywood writers still going strong, a month after strike began
Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
It’s Showtime! Here’s the First Look at Jenna Ortega’s Beetlejuice 2 Character
Text scams, crypto crackdown, and an economist to remember
OceanGate Suspends All Explorations 2 Weeks After Titanic Submersible implosion