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Log inBarbie wins legal spat with Bratz
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Barbie wins legal spat with Bratz
by Outspoken on Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:58 pm
Barbie wins legal spat with Bratz
AFP News Service
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Mattel, maker of the ever-popular "Barbie" fashion doll, has won a major legal battle against its chief competition "Bratz," after a jury ruled the rival doll had been designed by a Mattel employee in breach of contract with the toy giant.
"A 10-person jury has rendered a unanimous decision that the majority of Bratz design drawings, prototypes and sculpts were created by doll designer Carter Bryant while he was employed by Mattel," a press statement sent out by Mattel said.
Bryant had an agreement with Mattel, under which he assigned to the toymaker all ownership rights of anything he created during his employment there.
But while he was still at Mattel, Bryant entered into a contract with California-based MGA company, licensing Bratz to them. That was in September 2000; Bryant left Mattel in October of the same year.
A month later, MGA showed Bratz prototypes for the first time and in January 2001 exhibited Bratz at the Hong Kong Toy Fair. Bratz dolls hit shop shelves in June 2001.
"This is a victory for all the hard-working people at Mattel who come together to create many of the most beloved toys for children," said chief executive officer Bob Eckert, who called the jury's decision a victory "for all those who believe in fair play."
"While the case has been very complicated, the underlying principle has been a simple one -- you shouldn't take what isn't yours," he added.
Thursday's decision affected MGA but not Bryant, who reached an out-of-court settlement with Mattel in May, less than two weeks before the trial began.
The trial opened at the end of May, but the case has its roots in 1999, when Bryant worked for Mattel as a designer.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080718/bs_afp/usbusinesscourttoyscompanymattel_080718174602;_ylt=Aj5d.9xv_fo.R3N66_E.7G6s0NUE
(AFP/File/Tim Sloan)
AFP News Service
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Mattel, maker of the ever-popular "Barbie" fashion doll, has won a major legal battle against its chief competition "Bratz," after a jury ruled the rival doll had been designed by a Mattel employee in breach of contract with the toy giant.
"A 10-person jury has rendered a unanimous decision that the majority of Bratz design drawings, prototypes and sculpts were created by doll designer Carter Bryant while he was employed by Mattel," a press statement sent out by Mattel said.
Bryant had an agreement with Mattel, under which he assigned to the toymaker all ownership rights of anything he created during his employment there.
But while he was still at Mattel, Bryant entered into a contract with California-based MGA company, licensing Bratz to them. That was in September 2000; Bryant left Mattel in October of the same year.
A month later, MGA showed Bratz prototypes for the first time and in January 2001 exhibited Bratz at the Hong Kong Toy Fair. Bratz dolls hit shop shelves in June 2001.
"This is a victory for all the hard-working people at Mattel who come together to create many of the most beloved toys for children," said chief executive officer Bob Eckert, who called the jury's decision a victory "for all those who believe in fair play."
"While the case has been very complicated, the underlying principle has been a simple one -- you shouldn't take what isn't yours," he added.
Thursday's decision affected MGA but not Bryant, who reached an out-of-court settlement with Mattel in May, less than two weeks before the trial began.
The trial opened at the end of May, but the case has its roots in 1999, when Bryant worked for Mattel as a designer.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080718/bs_afp/usbusinesscourttoyscompanymattel_080718174602;_ylt=Aj5d.9xv_fo.R3N66_E.7G6s0NUE
(AFP/File/Tim Sloan)
"Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything."
Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
