The $71M Victory That Acquired Snatched Again
T.I. and Tameka “Tiny” Harris simply hit a serious authorized pace bump of their combat to guard the OMG Girlz model. Though they initially secured an enormous $71 million verdict in a lawsuit in opposition to toy large MGA Leisure, a federal choose simply tossed out most of it.
T.I. And Tiny Face Stunning Allegations In New Lawsuit
Again in 2024, the couple sued MGA for allegedly jacking the title, picture, and likeness of their lady group—OMG Girlz—to create the L.O.L. Shock! O.M.G. (Outrageous Millennial Ladies) doll line. The group was co-founded by T.I. and Tiny and featured Zonnique “Star” Pullins, Bahja “Magnificence” Rodriguez, and Breaunna “Babydoll” Womack.
In September 2024, a jury rocked the courtroom by awarding them $17.9 million in precise damages and $53.6 million in punitive damages, totaling over $71 million.
However now? That celebration bought placed on pause.
Decide Slashes the Bag—However Says the Struggle Ain’t Over
In line with a brand new ruling filed July 9, 2025, U.S. District Decide James V. Selna determined that whereas the $17.9 million in precise damages can keep, MGA shouldn’t need to pay the complete $53.6 million in punitive damages. He dominated that there wasn’t sturdy sufficient proof displaying MGA acted with deliberate intent to repeat the OMG Girlz.
He even stated essentially the most MGA ought to pay in punitive damages is simply $1. Sure, you learn that proper—one greenback.
“There was no dependable proof that MGA had any information of the group’s commerce gown or want to make use of their likeness to create the infringing dolls,” the choose said in his 33-page resolution, as reported by Rolling Stone. “The sturdy look that MGA copied different celebrities doesn’t present clear and convincing proof that such was the case for the OMG Girlz.”
So what now? T.I. and Tiny have two weeks to make a transfer: settle for the $17.9M plus $1 or take this entire factor to trial once more.
Tiny and T.I. React to the New Verdict
Despite the fact that they’re not strolling away with the complete $71M anymore, each Tiny and Tip made it clear—they’re proud they stood their floor.
Tiny didn’t maintain again, saying:“On the finish of the day, the proof confirmed [MGA] stole from us. They stole from our creation. I’m glad we caught with it. Nobody may inform me they didn’t steal from us.”
T.I. adopted with a robust assertion of his personal:“I believe justice was served. I believe it’s a testomony to the relentlessness and resilience of my spouse, daughter, and nieces. We’re simply comfortable we had been capable of come out on high and combat for creatives and our mental property that giant firms appear to assume is simply public area and free for all to return and seize and use.”
This ruling could have knocked some zeroes off the examine, however the affect of their win for Black creatives can’t be ignored.
What This Means for Black Creators within the Business
This second is greater than the payout. T.I. and Tiny’s authorized journey has sparked essential convos about how usually Black tradition will get stolen, flipped, and commercialized by billion-dollar manufacturers—with no credit score or compensation.
Their braveness in going to struggle in a courtroom over mental property is a daring blueprint for how you can stand ten toes down when main corporations attempt to water down or wipe out Black contributions.
Whether or not they select the brand new trial or not, the case already despatched a robust message: don’t play with our picture, our names, or our historical past.
