T.I. and Tiny, the famous couple in the American music industry, are not only known for their musical contributions but also for their bold business strategies in recent years. One of their standout moves was founding the pop group OMG Girlz in 2009. Although the group did not produce major hits in the market, they became the center of a prolonged legal battle that ultimately brought T.I. and Tiny a massive compensation.
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Recently, T.I. and Tiny won a historic victory in a $71 million lawsuit against MGA Entertainment after the company violated the couple’s intellectual property rights. According to Deadline, the infringement occurred when MGA launched a line of dolls that mimicked the design and style of OMG Girlz, infringing upon the group’s likeness. The court ruled that MGA must pay $17,872,359 in actual damages and $53,616,759 in punitive damages.
What is noteworthy is that this victory was not easily won. T.I. and Tiny had previously filed two lawsuits in 2023 but lost both. The first lawsuit was dismissed after the jury heard banned testimony related to allegations of “cultural appropriation.” In their second attempt, the verdict favored MGA Entertainment, forcing T.I. and Tiny to persist until the third lawsuit finally secured justice.
T.I.’s lawyer, John Keville, made a statement following the victory: “We thank the jurors for standing up to MGA’s bullying and misrepresentations.” Both T.I. and Tiny kept a tight lip about the ongoing cases, but before the lawsuit concluded, they expressed optimism about the outcome. Tiny told AllHipHop, “The judge maintained impartiality, and we value the diligence the jury exhibited. With the case now entrusted to them, we believe they will deliver a verdict that is just and in favor of OMG Girlz.”
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The irony lies in the fact that OMG Girlz has been defunct for nearly a decade. The group was active from 2009 to 2015, with a brief reunion in 2017, and since then, they have largely stayed out of the spotlight. Yet, this legal victory stems from a seemingly dormant venture of the couple. T.I. told reporters, “This victory is not just for us, but for every artist who has had their work taken without permission.”
This triumph is not just about reclaiming justice for OMG Girlz but also serves as a wake-up call against intellectual property violations in the entertainment industry, particularly affecting young artists and forgotten groups. It reflects T.I. and Tiny’s determination to protect their intellectual property and sends a powerful message that artists’ creativity must be respected and safeguarded.
