T.I. and Tiny Harris’s hard-fought legal victory against a major toy company might not lead to the payday they anticipated.
The couple initially won an impressive $71 million lawsuit against the doll brand LOL Surprise! and MGA Entertainment. The court found the company guilty of infringing on the intellectual property rights associated with their girl group, OMG Girlz.
However, this victory might not be as sweet as it seems. Judge James Selna is now considering slashing the settlement by a whopping 75%, leaving T.I. and Tiny with just under $18 million. The judge expressed doubts about MGA’s malicious intent, which would justify the initial punitive damages awarded.
Judge Selna explained, “There’s a lot to contemplate. I want to put this down for a couple days, and I want to come back to it fresh from the top.” His tentative decision means that there’s still room for change.
The Harris’s accusations stem from the belief that MGA blatantly copied the look of OMG Girlz, a group that includes their daughter, Star. She, along with her bandmates, took a stand and testified against the toy manufacturer.
Despite their critical win, T.I. shared his frustrations in an interview, stating that MGA tried to make him the villain. “[They were] trying to paint me as the bad guy when really, they were the [bad] ones,” he remarked, highlighting the tension throughout the courtroom drama.
T.I. further accused MGA of employing “bully tactics” throughout the case, criticizing their ongoing denial of any copyright infringement.
MGA, on the other hand, continues to deny any wrongdoing, claiming the dolls were not influenced by the OMG Girlz and labeling T.I. and Tiny as ‘extortionists’ for pursuing the lawsuit.
While T.I. and Tiny Harris celebrated a victory, they now face uncertainty as a judge reconsiders the substantial $71 million award. The saga highlights the challenges of defending intellectual property rights against major corporations.
