Mattel wins $100m in Bratz brawl

Mattel Inc, the world's biggest toymaker, was awarded $100 million in copyright-infringement and contract damages for its claims that MGA Entertainment Inc's Bratz dolls are based on the work of a former Mattel designer.

A federal jury in Riverside, California, found yesterday that some of the pouty and multiethnic Bratz dolls closely held MGA started selling in 2001 are substantially similar to the drawings of the former Barbie-doll designer. The jury found last month, in the trial's first phase, that designer Carter Bryant made the sketches while he was at Mattel in 1999 and 2000.

Mattel, which sought as much as $1 billion in Bratz profits from MGA, won $90 million for its claims that MGA and its majority owner and chief executive officer, Isaac Larian, intentionally interfered with Bryant's Mattel contract and helped him breach his fiduciary duty and his duty of loyalty to Mattel. The company also won $10 million on its copyright-infringement claims.