Rapper T.I. and singer Tiny’s lawsuit against California toymaker goes to trial

Rapper T.I. and his wife, singer Tameka “Tiny” Harris, are facing off with a Chatsworth toymaker in a federal civil trial that began in a Santa Ana courtroom on Wednesday, Jan. 18, over more than two-dozen dolls that the couple says were based on the stolen likeness of their daughter and her two partners in a musical group.

T.I. and Tiny are seeking payment from the high-profile toymaker MGA Entertainment for dolls in the company’s “L.O.L. Surprise! OMG” line that the couple alleges improperly used the likeness of the OMG Girls, a former rap group that included Tiny’s daughter and two of her friends.

An attorney representing MGA fired back at the couple during opening statements — describing the lawsuit as a “shakedown” and the OMG Girls as a financially challenged group whose members actually borrowed their style from the toymaker’s earlier line of dolls in the popular Bratz franchise.

Jurors were repeatedly shown photos comparing the dolls and the members of OMG Girls, which shared a fashion aesthetic emphasizing brightly colored hair, makeup and clothes.

The OMG Girls were formed in 2009 with the help of Tiny, and made regular appearances on the reality show “T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle” on VH1. Along with Zonnique Pullins — Tiny’s daughter and T.I.’s stepdaughter — the group also included Reginae Carter — the daughter of rapper Lil’ Wayne — and sisters Lourdes and Bahja Rodriguez.

David Scheper, one of the attorney’s representing T.I. and Tiny, told jurors that the OMG Girls’ colorful hair and clothing that often included tutu outfits and flowing shirts and the chemistry between the members was key to the group.

“This brand was so big that it became good enough to steal,” Scheper said.

Several years after the group stopped recording and performing, in 2015, Scheper alleged that MGA Entertainment began releasing dolls based on the group’s images. The trial is focusing on 31 specific dolls, the attorney added.