Entertainment

Tiny & TI Speak After Winning $71 Million in MGA Entertainment Lawsuit


Three tests later, TI And Tiny Harris won millions of dollars their case against MGA Entertainment. Entertainers have repeatedly sued toy manufacturers over their product lines. “LOL What a surprise! Oh my god” dolls, claiming that some of the dolls copied the pop group’s aesthetic and style. Oh my god girls.

The pair eventually closed the legal chapter with $71 million in actual and punitive damages. A California jury found MGA Entertainment liable for copyright and intellectual property infringement on Monday (September 23), according to Rolling Stone.

Here’s Why the Jury Ruled in Favor of Tiny and TI in the MGA Entertainment Trial

As mentioned, TI and Tiny’s victory over MGA came after three trials. Their first trial ended in a dismissal in January 2023 due to testimony being barred on the grounds of “cultural appropriation.” MGA won a second trial in early 2023. However, in September of that year, a judge granted Harris a retrial.

After deliberating for three weeks in the third trial, the jury found that 13 of the more than 30 dolls discussed at trial infringed on OMG Girlz’s trademark. Furthermore, the jury found that 13 of the dolls also misappropriated the pop group’s name, image, and likeness (NIL). A 14th doll was reportedly found to infringe on the trademark and a 15th doll misappropriated OMG Girlz’s NIL, according to RS.

In court testimony, TI, Tiny, and their legal team argued that MGA marketed at least seven dolls that looked identical to “very specific public events” that the OMG Girlz attended or performed at, and publicly released photos of them. MGA has denied the allegations, calling the defendants in the lawsuit “extortionists.”

To be clear, Tiny is the co-founder of OMG Girlz, a group that features Tiny’s daughter. Pullins “Star” by Zonnique, Bahja “The Beauty” RodriguezAnd Breaunna “Babydoll” WomackAll three testified at trial.

In closing arguments, TI and Tiny’s attorney, John Keville, cited testimony from four consumers who said they believed OMG Girlz was the inspiration for the related doll line. Both sides argued about market confusion and the difference between inspiration and appropriation. Ultimately, the jury awarded the defendants $17.9 million in actual damages and ordered MGA to pay Tiny and TI $53.6 million in punitive damages.

TI, Tiny and OMG Girlz speak after winning lawsuit

TI was not present in the Santa Ana courthouse for the hearing, but Tiny Harris and the OMG Girlz were. Speaking to Rolling Stone after the verdict, she said the amount was more than she expected.

“I would have been happy with anything. They blessed us with so much more. We would have loved to thank the judges, but we didn’t get the chance,” Tiny told RS.

TI also spoke to the news agency by phone after the verdict. He reportedly said he believed “justice had been served” and credited his wife for her “perseverance and endurance” in pursuing the case. Tip also said the award was a W for “people who actually put in the work and effort to build and create things out of nothing.”

“We are so happy that we were able to win and fight for our creators and our intellectual property that big corporations seem to think is just public property and everyone is free to take and use,” Tip shared.

Following the verdict, OMG Girlz were seen hugging each other outside the courtroom. Breaunna said she felt “grateful and overwhelmed with emotion,” while Zonnique said she was “touched” by the court’s unanimous decision that the group had a memorable commercial costume.

Meanwhile, outside court, Tiny reiterated that stance, asserting that MGA had “stolen from [their] creation.” “I’m glad we stuck with it. No one can tell me they didn’t steal from us,” Harris said.

Online, Tiny shared more about her $71 million win and the “fierce battle” that began in 2020. Check out her comments below and swipe for more details on the case.

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