RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- A federal jury awarded Mattel Inc. $100 million in damages today in a federal copyright lawsuit that pitted the house of Barbie against MGA Entertainment Inc., the maker of the saucy Bratz dolls.
MGA and its chief executive officer, Isaac Larian, were told to pay a total of $90 million in three causes of action related to Mattel's employment contract with designer Carter Bryant, who developed the Bratz concept.
The jury also ordered MGA, Larian and subsidiary MGA Hong Kong to pay a total of $10 million for copyright infringement.
MGA contends the three awards related to the contract were duplicative and said it plans to ask a judge to set total damages at no more than $40 million.
In a victory for MGA, the jury did not award any punitive damages and found that neither Larian nor MGA acted willfully when they employed Bryant, a finding that could have dramatically increased the damages.
U.S. District Judge Stephen G. Larson will now consider the awards and make a final decision on how much MGA owes Mattel. MGA plans to argue that some of the awards are duplicative.
MGA hailed the jury decision as vindication in the long-running case.
"This jury found there was no guilt," Larian said.
MGA attorney Thomas Nolan said the jury had awarded a fraction of the damages Mattel had sought.
"We are thrilled that this jury sent a strong message that they want these companies to compete in the marketplace and not the courtroom," Nolan said.
Mattel attorney Bill Price declined to comment after the verdict.
MGA and its chief executive officer, Isaac Larian, were told to pay a total of $90 million in three causes of action related to Mattel's employment contract with designer Carter Bryant, who developed the Bratz concept.
The jury also ordered MGA, Larian and subsidiary MGA Hong Kong to pay a total of $10 million for copyright infringement.
MGA contends the three awards related to the contract were duplicative and said it plans to ask a judge to set total damages at no more than $40 million.
In a victory for MGA, the jury did not award any punitive damages and found that neither Larian nor MGA acted willfully when they employed Bryant, a finding that could have dramatically increased the damages.
U.S. District Judge Stephen G. Larson will now consider the awards and make a final decision on how much MGA owes Mattel. MGA plans to argue that some of the awards are duplicative.
MGA hailed the jury decision as vindication in the long-running case.
"This jury found there was no guilt," Larian said.
MGA attorney Thomas Nolan said the jury had awarded a fraction of the damages Mattel had sought.
"We are thrilled that this jury sent a strong message that they want these companies to compete in the marketplace and not the courtroom," Nolan said.
Mattel attorney Bill Price declined to comment after the verdict.
