The $71 Million Dollar Twist: Latest Updates On The OMG Girlz Lawsuit Against MGA Entertainment
The long-running legal saga involving the R&B/pop group OMG Girlz, their managers T.I. and Tiny Harris, and toy giant MGA Entertainment has taken a dramatic turn, with fresh developments emerging in late 2024 and early 2025 that could completely redefine the final financial outcome.
The core of the dispute centers on the wildly popular L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. Dolls, which the plaintiffs successfully argued were a clear and unauthorized rip-off of the OMG Girlz’s unique style and "trade dress." While a federal jury initially awarded a staggering $71.5 million, the latest court motions and rulings have drastically cut that figure and opened the door for a potential retrial, keeping the intellectual property battle far from over as of December 2025.
OMG Girlz: A Profile of the Members at the Center of the $71M Verdict
The OMG Girlz (Officially Miss Guided) were an American R&B/pop girl group formed in 2009 by Tameka "Tiny" Harris. Known for their vibrant hair colors, bold fashion, and distinct, youthful aesthetic, the group was central to the intellectual property case against MGA Entertainment. The group's core members, often referred to by their stage names, are:
- Zonnique Pullins ("Star")
- Born: March 20, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Role: Lead vocalist and the daughter of Tameka "Tiny" Harris.
- Post-OMG Career: Transitioned into a solo R&B career and became a prominent reality television personality, appearing on shows like T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle and Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta.
- Bahja Rodriguez ("Beauty")
- Born: August 2, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia.
- Role: Vocalist, known for her distinctive pink hair and dynamic stage presence.
- Post-OMG Career: Pursued a solo career as a singer-songwriter, releasing several EPs and singles, further establishing her brand identity.
- Breaunna Womack ("BabyDoll" or "JusBre")
- Born: March 23, 1995, in Mobile, Alabama.
- Role: Vocalist, recognized for her blue or purple hair and unique style.
- Post-OMG Career: Continued to work in music and entertainment, maintaining her status as a creative force in the R&B space.
The group’s original lineup also included Reginae Carter and Lourdes Rodriguez, but the legal action focused on the "trade dress" established by the core trio's aesthetic.
The Anatomy of the Lawsuit: Trade Dress and Cultural Appropriation Claims
The legal battle, filed by T.I. and Tiny Harris's companies, Grand Hustle, LLC and Pretty Hustle, LLC, against MGA Entertainment, was not a simple copyright infringement case, but a complex claim centered on "trade dress" infringement and the unauthorized use of the group's likeness.
The lawsuit, initiated around 2020, argued that MGA's popular L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. Dolls—specifically a line of 15 dolls—misappropriated the OMG Girlz's distinct aesthetic.
- The Core Claim (Trade Dress): The plaintiffs asserted that the dolls copied the group's "trade dress," which refers to the visual appearance of a product or its packaging that signifies its source to consumers. In the OMG Girlz's case, this included the group's signature style: brightly colored hair, specific fashion choices, and the overall look that was meticulously developed by Tiny Harris.
- Cultural Appropriation: The legal arguments also touched upon the broader issue of cultural appropriation and "outright theft," suggesting that MGA Entertainment, a large conglomerate, profited immensely by taking the distinct, culturally specific look of a young, predominantly Black girl group without authorization or compensation.
- MGA’s Defense: MGA Entertainment, the toymaker behind the L.O.L. Surprise! brand, initially preemptively sued the artists in 2020, alleging that the OMG Girlz's claims were unfounded. They argued that the dolls were based on general fashion trends and not specifically on the group.
In a significant victory for the artists, a federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California sided with the OMG Girlz, delivering a massive $71.5 million verdict.
The Latest Turmoil: $71 Million Slashed and a New Trial Looms (2025 Update)
Despite the initial, headline-grabbing $71.5 million jury award, the legal battle has seen significant developments in the subsequent years, which are crucial for understanding the current status of the case. These updates, stretching into 2025, show that the fight for the final payout is far from settled.
The Reduction of Damages (2024):
In a major blow to the plaintiffs, a federal judge intervened and drastically reduced the damages award. While the judge upheld the jury's finding that MGA had misappropriated the OMG Girlz's identity and infringed on their intellectual property, the final financial award was significantly cut.
- The original $71.5 million verdict was eventually slashed to approximately $17.8 million.
- This lower figure represents a "disgorgement of profits," meaning the amount MGA was ordered to pay was based on the profits the company made from the infringing dolls, rather than the full damages initially sought.
The Motion for a New Trial (2025):
The most recent and critical update, confirmed in court documents extending into 2025, is MGA Entertainment’s continued challenge to the ruling. MGA filed a motion requesting a judgment as a matter of law, or, alternatively, a new trial (known as a "retrial") or a further reduction of the damages (known as "remittitur").
While the judge acknowledged that the jurors had "substantial evidence" to find MGA liable for misappropriating the OMG Girlz's identity, the decision to reduce the award and the ongoing motion for a new trial indicate that the case remains volatile. The potential for a retrial means the parties may have to re-litigate the entire case, or at least the damages phase, to determine a final, legally sound figure. This high-stakes legal maneuvering ensures the OMG Girlz lawsuit will remain a significant landmark case in the intersection of celebrity intellectual property and corporate cultural appropriation for the foreseeable future.
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