Court rejects Bratz copyright claim
A US federal court jury has rejected Mattel’s copyright infringement claims over MGA Entertainment’s popular line of Bratz dolls.
The jury in Santa Ana, California, found that Mattel does not own the idea for Bratz or any of the sketches that led to the doll, and has awarded Mattel no damages.
The panel also found that MGA did not steal any trade secrets.
MGA chief executive officer Isaac Larian openly cried while listening to the multiple decisions in the lawsuit.
Mattel had alleged that Bratz designer Carter Bryant created the billion-dollar Bratz line while he worked for Mattel and the toy giant therefore owned the doll line.
MGA denied those claims and counter-sued, alleging Mattel engaged in corporate espionage and unfair business practices to squelch competition from Bratz.
