Rapper T.I. and his wife Tiny are again sparring in court with toy company MGA Entertainment. They may have finally won a whopping $71 million verdict in April in their case over copycat dolls the same month, but the grip on the couple's win looks to be potentially slipping because MGA is seeking a do-over.
This lawsuit has already had more twists than a Netflix drama. Now, MGA is going for a fourth trial, claiming that the third one, which saw a jury decisively rule in favor of T.I. versus Tiny, was legally mismanaged. The April 29 verdict awarded MGA damages that exceeded $100 million and declared the company's L.O.L. Surprise! OMG dolls ripped off the OMG Girlz' signature look and should probably either be scrapped entirely or at least be significantly less expensive.
The $71 million judgment, the bulk in punitive damages of $53.6 million to be exact, came after a jury decided that 15 of MGA's dolls had copied the appearance, demeanor, and aura of the OMG Girlz, an exuberant girl group formed by Tiny and managed by T.I.
But MGA's recent legal maneuver shows that they understand that the OMG Girlz's image isn't protected in the manner T.I. and Tiny claim it to be. Their argument is that the group never had a look distinct enough in the public mind to protect, and even if it did, it was abandoned long ago.
MGA said there's no strong evidence that consumers were ever confused, no little girls confused the band and the dolls, and no harm or trade secrets were disclosed. Oh, and also, creative freedom should be in their favor, the way their legal team tells it, citing the First Amendment as a shield for their doll designs.
That's a lot of worth in a case that began four years and three trials ago. The first trial ended in a mistrial after claims of cultural appropriation tainted the jury's instructions. The jury prevailed in the second trial, but procedural flubs and a Supreme Court decision led to a do-over. Then, there was the third trial in September 2024, in which T.I. and Tiny emerged as clear victors until today.
MGA's latest request is to dismiss the verdict, order a new trial, or reduce the damages. Those critics are particularly fixated on the $53.6 million punitive punch, calling it excessive and unjustified. They say the company did not act with malice or deception, only creativity. So what happens next? It's a waiting game for now, but the judge hasn't ruled on MGA's motions.
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