T.I. and Tiny Harris Appeal Judge’s Tentative Decision to Reduce Their $71M Award to $17M In OMG Girlz Lawsuit

A federal judge tentatively ruled on Jan. 6 against T.I. and Tiny Harris in a watched intellectual property dispute, overturning $53.6 million in punitive damages awarded by a jury last year. Photo via Instagram The Harris’ have appealed the reduction. The couple had accused MGA Entertainment of infringing on the OMG Girlz’s trademark by creating L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls that allegedly mimicked the group’s distinctive style. While the court upheld $17.8 million in compensatory damages, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Judge James Selna found insufficient evidence to prove the toy company intentionally copied the OMG Girlz’s likeness. The original verdict, delivered on Sept. 23, included $17.8 million in real damages and $53.6 million in punitive damages. The couple alleged that MGA’s dolls bore a striking resemblance to the OMG Girlz, a girl group founded by Tiny Harris and featuring her daughter. However, Judge Selna determined that the evidence presented did not meet the requirements of the Lanham Act to justify such punitive damages. The OMG Girlz, formed in 2009, gained prominence as a girl group under Tiny Harris’s guidance. The group featured bold, colorful fashion choices that became a defining part of their image. The Harrises...