Tameka “Tiny” Harris, the spouse of rapper T.I., took the stand in California federal court docket on Wednesday to handle allegations that she and her husband engaged in extortion towards MGA Leisure. The Harrises accuse the toy big of stealing the likeness and magnificence of their daughter’s teen pop band OMG Girlz to create the wildly fashionable “LOL Shock!” Oh my god” doll.
Tiny, who rose to fame as a member of ’90s R&B group Xscape and co-wrote the hit “No Scrubs” for TLC, is the primary witness referred to as to testify within the trial, which begins Tuesday in Santa Ana. Tiny spoke calmly and thoroughly, firmly denying that the lawsuit was motivated by monetary acquire. “I am not right here to seize cash. My husband and I reside comfortably. We do effectively for ourselves,” she mentioned. Tiny emphasised that her greatest issues are with the members of OMG Girlz — her daughters Zonnique “Star” Pullins, Bahja “Magnificence” Rodriguez, and Breaunna “Babydoll” Womack — who she believes deserve recognition and compensation for his or her artistic contributions.
“It is extra concerning the women. I really feel like the ladies have constructed a model they usually work arduous for it. She feels that large firms like MGA revenue from the picture and magnificence that the OMG Girlz domesticate with out together with them “I do not suppose it is proper for a giant firm to return and take away what they constructed and never allow them to be part of it,” she added.
The authorized dispute dates again to December 2020, when Tiny and TI, whose actual title is Clifford Harris, despatched a cease-and-desist letter to MGA, asking the toy firm to cease distributing its OMG dolls, claiming the dolls’ names, vibrant hair and… Distinctive wardrobe straight impressed by OMG Girlz. MGA responded rapidly, submitting a lawsuit in search of a court docket ruling that the corporate owned the names and pictures of the dolls. In response, the Harrises filed a cross-complaint of commerce costume infringement.
The court docket standoff isn’t the primary time the 2 sides have clashed. The primary trial in January 2023 resulted in a mistrial, and a second trial later that yr resulted within the Harrises dropping. Nonetheless, attributable to adjustments within the legislation, that judgment was overturned, resulting in the present proceedings.
With TI watching from the gallery, Tiny made it clear that their struggle was for the rules and justice of the OMG Girlz. The result of this trial might set an essential precedent for the safety of mental property rights within the leisure and toy industries, significantly on the subject of the artistic contributions of artists and performers.
Because the trial continues, the Harris household and their supporters hope for a positive final result of their case that ensures the OMG Girlz are appropriately acknowledged and compensated for his or her arduous work and creativity.
