T.I. and Tameka "Tiny" Harris emerged victorious in their epic legal battle against MGA Entertainment, triumphantly asserting that the company had infringed upon the intellectual property rights of their musical collective, the OMG Girlz, through their L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls. On the fateful day of September 23, Tiny, the 49-year-old Xscape vocalist, exuded pure joy as the years-long court drama culminated in a staggering $71 million victory.
"We fought for our city, we fought for our culture," Tiny declared triumphantly during an Instagram Live broadcast outside the federal courthouse in Santa Ana, California. "It was a grueling battle, a relentless fight that began in 2020 and finally reached its conclusion today. We couldn't be more ecstatic."
The "Understanding" crooner also extended heartfelt gratitude to the jury for their unanimous decision, saying, "We deeply appreciate the jurors for standing by us, believing in our narrative. They heard our story, saw through the truth, and rejected any notion of deceit. It's truly astonishing."
Speaking exclusively to Rolling Stone post-verdict, Tiny marveled at the magnitude of their win, which included an additional $53.6 million in punitive damages. "I'm speechless. They exceeded all expectations. Any outcome would have been a blessing, but they went above and beyond. We longed to express our gratitude to the jury, yet the moment never arose."
According to Rolling Stone, the jury found that over a dozen L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls blatantly violated the trade dress and unlawfully appropriated the name, image, and likeness of the all-female band, formed by T.I. and Tiny in 2009. The OMG Girlz comprise Bahja Rodriguez, Breaunna Womack, and Tiny's eldest daughter, Zonnique Pullins.
Tiny had repeatedly drawn attention to the striking similarities between the dolls and her group, even posting a side-by-side comparison on Instagram just a week prior, showcasing matching outfits and hairstyles. "Do these dolls look familiar?" the caption queried, alluding to the looming court date. "One of many, but the most glaring example of plagiarized attire! #OMGGirlz vs #OMGDolls – final week of court. Praying for justice!"
Pullins, 28, Rodriguez, also 28, and Womack, 29, all testified during the three-week trial, where T.I. and Tiny accused MGA of releasing seven dolls that eerily mirrored the OMG Girlz's attire and style from specific public appearances and photographs.
"I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and joy," Womack confessed to Rolling Stone. Pullins echoed the sentiment, recalling, "When the judge asked if we had a distinctive trade dress, and everyone raised their hands, I was moved to tears. We all silently wept, knowing we'd been heard."
T.I., 43, shared his thoughts via phone with the outlet, addressing MGA's lawyers who dismissed the lawsuit as a mere "money grab." "That was nothing but a bullying tactic," he fumed. "They tried to portray me as the villain, but the truth is, they were the ones who stole from us and expected us to remain silent. Their arrogance stems from a long history of getting away with it, until we finally stood up and spoke out."
MGA's founder, Isaac Larian, who denied all allegations, labeled the group as "extortionists" during the trial, insisting that the dolls were not inspired by the OMG Girlz.
