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TI and Tiny receive $71 million in lawsuit against toy maker

TI and Tameka “Tiny” Harris have won their lawsuit against MGA Entertainment, claiming the company infringed the intellectual property rights of their music group, the OMG Girlz, with the company's LOL Surprise! OMG dolls.

On Monday, September 23, the 49-year-old Xscape singer shared her joy that the years-long legal battle ended with a $71 million victory.

“We did this for the city. We did this for the culture,” Tiny said during an Instagram Live video outside a federal court in Santa Ana, California.

“It's been a struggle. It's been a hell of a fight,” she continued of the case that began in 2020 and lasted until Monday's hearing. “We couldn't be happier.”

TI and Tameka “Tiny” Cottle-Harris.

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic


The “Understanding” singer also thanked the jury for their unanimous verdict.

“We want to thank the jury for supporting us and believing what we said. They heard our story and knew we weren't lying. It's unbelievable,” Tiny added.

MGA Entertainment Inc. LOL Surprise! Dolls.

Mark Kauzlarich/getty


After the verdict, Tiny spoke with Rolling Stone about the victory plus $53.6 million in punitive damages.

“I mean, wow. They did more than I thought they would,” she told the outlet. “I would have been happy with anything. They more than blessed us. We wanted to thank the jury so much, but we didn't get a chance.”

Accordingly Rolling Stonejurors found that more than a dozen LOL Surprise! OMG dolls “infringed the trademark and misappropriated the name, image and likeness of the all-female band that TI and Tiny formed in 2009.”

Tiny and the OMG Girlz arrive at the 2012 BET Awards.

Johnny Nunez/WireImage


The OMG Girlz consist of Bahja Rodriguez, Breaunna Womack and Tiny's eldest daughter, Zonnique Pullins.

Over the years, Tiny has repeatedly highlighted the similarities between the LOL Surprise! OMG dolls — including an Instagram post just last week with side-by-side photos of the girls wearing similar outfits and hairstyles next to the dolls.

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“Do these dolls look familiar?” was written above the graphic.

“One of many but the biggest custom costume is in question! @omggirlz vs. #OMGDolls final week of court! God willing the truth will prevail!!!” Tiny captioned the upload, which also showed the girls appearing in outfits similar to those of the dolls.

Pullins, 28, Rodriguez, also 28, and Womack, 29, testified at the three-week trial. During the proceedings, TI and Tiny accused MGA of promoting seven dolls that appeared identical to the clothing and style of the OMG Girlz at “very specific public events” or photos, according to the outlet.

OMG Girlz perform on stage at the 2012 BET Awards.

Earl Gibson III/Getty


“I am so grateful and overwhelmed with joy,” said Womack Rolling StonePullins added, “When the judge asked if we had a memorable trade dress and everyone raised their hands, I was so emotional. We all cried silently.”

The 43-year-old TI gave a statement to the outlet in a telephone conversation.

“I think it was an intimidation tactic,” the “Live Your Life” rapper said of MGA's lawyers, calling the lawsuit a “money-making scheme.”

“[They were] tried to portray me as the villain, although in reality they were the [bad] those. They were the ones who came and deceived us, and [they] expected of us not to have the courage to stand up and speak for ourselves,” he continued. “That kind of condescension comes from being out of touch with the reality of the culture after having your way for so long and no one has really stood up and spoken out against you.”

MGA founder Isaac Larian denied the allegations but insisted that the group had no influence on the dolls and called the famous family and the OMG Girlz “blackmailers” during the trial.

PEOPLE has contacted MGA Entertainment for comment.