A federal judge has significantly reduced the damages awarded to rapper Clifford “T.I.” Harris and his wife, singer Tameka “Tiny” Harris, in their high-profile lawsuit against toy maker MGA Entertainment—cutting the original $71 million jury verdict down to approximately $17.9 million.
The move comes just months after a jury awarded the Harrises and the members of their girl group OMG Girlz tens of millions of dollars in a case alleging copyright and trade dress infringement involving MGA’s popular L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls.
Judge Cites Lack of Evidence for Willful Infringement
In his ruling, U.S. District Judge James V. Selna concluded that while the jury correctly found MGA liable for copying the OMG Girlz’s likeness and creative style, there was not sufficient evidence to support the $53.6 million in punitive damages originally awarded.
“Punitive damages require a finding of willful misconduct,” the judge wrote. “The plaintiffs failed to provide adequate evidence that MGA acted with the malicious intent necessary to justify such a verdict.”
Among the key points in the judge’s decision was the fact that out of more than 1,200 reference images reviewed by MGA designers, only one Instagram photo of the OMG Girlz was identified. Additionally, a single mention of the group in an internal MGA communication was deemed insufficient to prove the company knowingly infringed on the group’s intellectual property.
Plaintiffs Reject $1 Punitive Award, Prepare for New Trial
As a result of the ruling, the punitive damages were reduced from over $53 million to just $1—a nominal amount that legal experts say reflects the court’s view that the infringement, while present, was not egregious enough to warrant punishment.
Attorneys for T.I., Tiny, and the OMG Girlz have already indicated they will not accept the revised award and plan to proceed with a new trial focused solely on punitive damages.
“The evidence of cultural appropriation and disregard for our clients’ creative contributions is overwhelming,” said their legal team in a statement. “We are prepared to return to court to ensure justice is fully served.”
Legal History and Cultural Stakes
The lawsuit, originally filed in 2020, accused MGA Entertainment of misappropriating the look, style, and image of the OMG Girlz—an early 2010s girl group founded by Tiny and managed by T.I.—for its line of L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. dolls, which debuted in 2019. The case has drawn widespread attention not only because of the celebrity status of the plaintiffs but also due to broader conversations about Black creatives and the exploitation of their work in mainstream commercial industries.
After multiple delays and one mistrial, a jury finally sided with the Harrises in September 2024, awarding them over $71 million in total damages, including both compensatory and punitive awards.
With the punitive component now vacated and a retrial looming, the case remains a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over creative ownership, intellectual property rights, and cultural recognition.
What’s Next
The plaintiffs have two weeks to request a new trial formally. If granted, the upcoming proceedings will focus solely on determining whether MGA’s actions merit any punitive damages. Meanwhile, MGA has not publicly commented on the reduced judgment but is expected to defend its position vigorously in court.
As both parties prepare for another legal showdown, the outcome of this case could set new precedent for how courts address allegations of cultural theft and creative infringement—particularly involving major corporations profiting from youth culture and marginalized communities.
