A U.S. jury has awarded $71.5 million to the members of the pop group OMG Girlz after ruling that toy company MGA Entertainment infringed on their intellectual property. The dispute centered around MGA’s popular LOL Surprise! OMG dolls, which the group claimed copied their unique look and brand.
After years of legal battles, the California jury sided with OMG Girlz, awarding $17.9 million in real damages and $53.6 million in punitive damages for infringing on the group’s “trade dress” and “name, likeness, and identity.”
The members of OMG Girlz—Zonnique Pullins, Bahja Rodriguez, and Breaunna Womack—as well as Pullins’ mother Tameka “Tiny” Harris and stepfather Chris “T.I.” Harris, will receive the payout.
The group, which formed in 2009 and has a sizable following on Instagram, celebrated the victory on social media. Rodriguez emphasized that the win was for all creatives, vowing that they would no longer be silenced or allow others to profit from their creativity and ideas.
The legal battle between OMG Girlz and MGA Entertainment began in 2020 when the group issued a cease-and-desist notice to the toy company.
MGA denied the accusations and countered the claims, leading to a protracted legal process. The first trial, held in January 2023, ended in a mistrial, and while MGA won a second trial, OMG Girlz successfully appealed the ruling, leading to a third and final court showdown.
MGA Entertainment has consistently denied any wrongdoing, with their legal team arguing that the claims were baseless and offensive. They contended that the company’s sale of more than 40 million LOL Surprise!
OMG dolls had not led to any customer confusion regarding the OMG Girlz brand. However, the jury ultimately found that the similarities between the dolls and the group were significant enough to warrant the substantial payout.
The case highlights the ongoing importance of intellectual property protection for artists and creatives, especially in industries where brand identities and likenesses are critical to success.
OMG Girlz’s victory sets a precedent for other creatives facing similar battles over the unauthorized use of their image and brand by larger companies.
For the members of OMG Girlz, the ruling represents both a personal and professional triumph, validating their claims and reinforcing their place as a pioneering pop group.
Their win also serves as a warning to companies that creative ideas and images must be respected, and any exploitation of such intellectual property could result in significant legal and financial consequences.
MGA Entertainment’s loss in this case, despite its claims of innocence, underscores the complexity of intellectual property law in cases involving fashion, entertainment, and product design. The toy company may face further challenges as a result of this decision.
