Mattel Wins Victory Against Bratz Dolls! MSNBC News

No more Bratz dolls.
On December 3rd, Judge Stephen Larson, the United States District Court Judge presiding over ongoing intellectual property litigation between Mattel and MGA Entertainment, Inc., granted Mattel's motion for a permanent injunction barring MGA from manufacturing, distributing or selling Bratz fashion dolls, or using the "Bratz" name for any goods or services. He ordered MGA to transfer all trademark rights in the "Bratz" name to Mattel. The Court also held that MGA and its CEO, Isaac Larian, had engaged in unfair competition against Mattel.

"We're extremely pleased that the Court granted Mattel's motions for an injunction and ordered MGA to stop selling Bratz products," said Robert A. Eckert, chairman and chief executive officer of Mattel, Inc. "The Court's rulings underscore what Mattel has said all along -- that MGA should not be allowed to profit from its wrongdoing."

Judge Larson confirmed yesterday that "Mattel owns all right, title and interest, including any and all copyrights, in and to the Bratz-related works ..." The Court further ruled that "hundreds of the MGA parties' products -- including all the currently available core female fashion dolls Mattel was able to locate in the marketplace -- infringe [Mattel's] rights." As part of the permanent injunction, the Court also ordered MGA to recall all infringing Bratz products from store shelves and to reimburse retailers for the recall.

Mattel's request for a permanent injunction came on the heels of a $100 million jury verdict this past summer in Mattel's favor and against MGA, its Hong Kong subsidiary and Larian. At trial, the jury found that Carter Bryant, a Mattel doll designer, had created Bratz doll designs and the Bratz name while he was working at Mattel. The jury further found MGA, MGA Hong Kong and Larian had infringed Mattel's copyrights in Bratz and had acted unlawfully in aiding and abetting Bryant's wrongdoing.

The Court noted in its ruling yesterday that the jury had found that "the MGA parties wrongfully acquired the idea for the name 'Bratz'...." As a result, the Court stated, "California law requires, in this instance, that a constructive trust be imposed as to [the Bratz trademarks]. Mattel is the beneficiary of the constructive trust and MGA's trademarks in 'Bratz' ... inure to Mattel's benefit." As a result, the Court ordered that all trademark registrations for 'Bratz' be transferred to Mattel.

The Court's Orders will not take full effect until the Court rules on the parties' post-trial motions, which are currently scheduled to be heard in February.

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[barbiegirl1123]

this really is not fair, barbie fans, imagine if it was the other way around, if barbie ritierd, and bratz stayed, what if the bratz fans started to make fun of barbie? would u like that? this comes from a barbie AND bratz fan.

[BarbieCollectors]

We are not making fun of Brats, what are you talking about?

[kitisha44444444]

that's kinda not fair to Bratz, what if other girl don't like Barbie? I

Mattel should be thinking about all little girls, not just the ones that like Barbie

[AndPeriwinkle]

Great! Thank God they stopped producing slutty dolls for young girls! Barbie gives a better example.

[lily80332]

i like barbie and im glad they won!

[PPGandRRBfan]

hey!!!!i love bratz more than barbie but i would never say anything bad for Barbie because i love them both so dont talk bad about MGA.How would you like for somewone to say your company sucks,its not nice,please dont say bad about them

[Barbiechicks633]

Yes BRATZ ARE GONE YES YES YES SOO HAPPY!

[RSMARCH19]

i am so happy thank god bratz are going

out of the toy shops mattel rocks MGA

sucks i love barbie

love from barbie girl xox lol

[PossumGeorge]

i don't care that this is totally opposite to everything else

barbie couldn't stand that bratz were selling better

[ZippyAcornAngel]

mattel does not make them mga is still making them the moved the date to december 31st 2009

[Thearl]

Bratz are just posers.

[mgdiadula]

yah thats right bratz are lozahs

[VickiGirl61597]

barbie makes them now so mattel gets the money dont worry they still make bratz!

[EmzIzSweet]

i have a feeling mattel are going to take over bratz. they will keep selling them. but i have a feeling they'll either be the same bratz, but called myscene. like the newer edition myscene dolls. i dont know. but whatever the case, the dolls will still be on shelves, just with mattels label on. well, we'll just have too see.