T.I. and Tameka “Tiny” Harris have won a $71 million lawsuit against MGA Entertainment, the company behind the popular L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls. The couple claimed the toy maker violated the intellectual property rights of their music group, the OMG Girlz, by copying their likeness and style for the dolls.
A Victory for Culture
The legal battle, which began in 2020, came to an end on September 23, 2024, when a federal jury awarded T.I. and Tiny a significant payout. Tiny expressed her gratitude, saying, “We did this for the city. We did this for the culture.” She added that it had been “a hell of a fight” and praised the jurors for their unanimous verdict.
Dolls Too Similar to OMG Girlz
The OMG Girlz, a group formed in 2009 consisting of Bahja Rodriguez, Breaunna Womack, and Tiny’s daughter Zonnique Pullins, claimed the L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls closely resembled their image, outfits, and hairstyles. During the trial, side-by-side comparisons of the group’s looks and the dolls’ costumes were presented as evidence, showing striking similarities.
Emotional Testimonies and Accusations
During the three-week trial, Pullins, Rodriguez, and Womack all testified, recounting how the dolls’ appearance mirrored specific public events and performances by the group. Pullins became emotional when the jury recognized the OMG Girlz’s distinct “trade dress” — a term referring to a brand’s overall look and feel.
T.I. criticized MGA’s legal strategy, accusing the company of trying to discredit them by calling the lawsuit a “money grab.” He said, “They came and ripped us off, and [they] expected us not to have the audacity to stand up and speak for ourselves.”
Justice and More Than Expected
Tiny revealed to *Rolling Stone* that the $71 million award exceeded her expectations, saying, “They blessed us more than beyond.” Of that sum, $53.6 million was allocated as punitive damages, while the remainder was awarded for emotional distress and other losses.
MGA’s Denial and Founder’s Comments
Despite the jury’s verdict, MGA founder Isaac Larian denied any wrongdoing and labeled the Harris family “extortionists” during the trial. He maintained that the dolls were not influenced by the OMG Girlz, but the jury sided with T.I. and Tiny, delivering a decisive victory for the couple and their group.