Mattel Gets Big Win in Bratz Trial, Damages TBD Later

[WSJ_law_blog]

Expect Barbie to put on her best beaded dress tonight and celebrate on the town. That pesky little Cloe is getting what’s coming to her.

What has Barbie grabbing a tiny glass of something sparkling (pink, surely)? A federal jury in Riverside, Calif., determined Thursday that MGA Entertainment’s hugely popular Bratz dolls (pictured left) were designed while the designer worked for Barbie’s home, Mattel Inc.

It’s a big loss for MGA. Damages will be decided in a second phase of the trial, but the company could be forced to surrender royalties or even the right to produce the Bratz dolls. Here’s the story from WSJ reporter Nicholas Casey. For LB background on the case, click here, here and here.

Likewise, it’s a big win not only for Mattel but also for Mattel’s attorneys, a team led by John Quinn of Quinn Emanuel, who called into question the credibility of the designer, Carter Bryant, after the designer used a program called “Evidence Eliminator” to wipe his computer hard-drive.