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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Mattel Awarded $40 Million in Copyright Suit

Associated Press

RIVERSIDE, Calif.--A federal jury has awarded Mattel Inc. (MAT) $40 million in damages in a federal copyright lawsuit that pitted the house of Barbie against MGA Entertainment Inc., the maker of the saucy Bratz dolls.

Damages were awarded for contract interference and copyright infringement. No punitive damages were ordered against MGA.

The same jury that decided the damages phase concluded last month that Bratz designer Carter Bryant came up with the Bratz concept while working at Mattel.

In his closing arguments, Mattel attorney John Quinn said MGA owed Mattel at least $1 billion in Bratz profits and interest, while Chief Executive Isaac Larian aided in the breach of contract and owed nearly $800 million for his complicity.

MGA attorneys countered that the jury should award Mattel as little as $30 million because the company had built the doll line's value with smart additions, branding and packaging.

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