In the paper today...Barbie Suing Bratz

[monkey tennis]

Barbie makers Mattel are suing Bratz makers MGA.
Mattel claims that it owns the rights to Bratz, as a former employee
created them while still working for Mattel.

Barbie's empire generates about $1.25 billion annually.
Bratz generates about $500 million.

[huedell]

I'd love to see THAT catfight

[livnxxxl]

Barbie makers Mattel are suing Bratz makers MGA.
Mattel claims that it owns the rights to Bratz, as a former employee
created them while still working for Mattel.

Barbie's empire generates about $1.25 billion annually.
Bratz generates about $500 million.

I see the greedy b#stards at Mattel can never get enough. I hope they (Mattel) looses the law suit.

[monkey tennis]

I know, they could buy a small country...and fill it with a Killer trained Barbie's...
with Accessories of course.

[kingdom warrior]

I heard about this a few years back. That the designs were stolen from Mattel by the guy who created the Bratz line. He was still working for them. If they can prove it ,they may have force the Bratz line to end. I always thought the Bratz were hideous dolls...But good marketing (Making it a Hoochie Momma doll) made the doll a hit with little girls. Mattel's my scene doll is better designed and it doesn't have the super oversized head.

If anything they may settle out of court.

[Brown Bear]

Hey man....unless you're throwing Barbie off a roof top with velocity, she doesn't belong here. She's a DOLL.

[toys2cool]

Bratz should'nt be lasting too long anyways,they looks to be kind of going out of style.But if the guy did steal the designs then they have a case and should sue.

If just worked there,then this is just another case of greed

[starsky]

i cant even believe bratz generates that kind of money!

[LadyZod]

Hey, we don't know. Maybe the guy signed an agreement at his time at Mattel that would prevent him from working for the competition upon leaving. When I worked at a production studio, my contract stated that upon leaving I was restricted from having communication with the studio's clients (to prevent theft of client).

And if he worked on ANY part of the BRATZ while still employed at Mattel, it's considered work for hire, and Mattel owns his stuff.

[Iron_fox85]

and the battle still rages on........

[Brown Bear]

My Mego Fonzie is used to seeing these two girl fight....(over him that is)

AAAAYYYYY

[REMOVED]

Barbie is always suing someone and Barbie herself is a rip-off of Bild Lilli

[jemboy2004]

The Doll Wars continue! At one time it was Hasbro vs Mattel, now it's MGA vs Mattel. Will Mattel win again?

true bild lilli was barbie's inspiration but she was out of business by the time mattel made Barbie and Lilli was a sex toy for men, Not a toy for children. Mattel seen the toy for little girls in bild lilli that the makers of bild lilli didn't. Although I wonder if the people who made bild lilli ever got anything from Mattel? I would think they might have and if not I"m sure someone would have sued by now.

I think Bratz are totally different from Barbie and can't see them winning but I do think if they had a contract with the person who did create Bratz and it said something about him not being able to do such work for other companys they may have a case.

[REMOVED]

The Doll Wars continue! At one time it was Hasbro vs Mattel, now it's MGA vs Mattel. Will Mattel win again?

true bild lilli was barbie's inspiration but she was out of business by the time mattel made Barbie and Lilli was a sex toy for men, Not a toy for children. Mattel seen the toy for little girls in bild lilli that the makers of bild lilli didn't. Although I wonder if the people who made bild lilli ever got anything from Mattel? I would think they might have and if not I"m sure someone would have sued by now.

I think Bratz are totally different from Barbie and can't see them winning but I do think if they had a contract with the person who did create Bratz and it said something about him not being able to do such work for other companys they may have a case.

FYI:
Bild Lilli started out as an adult novelty but then was sold as a child's toy and very popular. They also sold outfits and accessories and exported them to several other countries including the U.S. They were made into the 60s and Mattel never bought the rights from them. Marx did buy the rights in the 60s and then unsuccessfully sued Mattel.

On a trip to German in the 50s, Ruth Handler from Mattel bought several b.L. in Germany and brought them back to U.S. and reworked them into Barbie, releasing them in '59. They were a blatant rip-off. So they were being produced simultaneously until Marx bought the rights....

Of interest maybe (but probably not ;-)) to Mego collectors is that she was also made in a Mego scale 7.5" doll........ I have a couple of knockoffs because I am too cheap to have a real one... They are kind of cool though. I like their heads....

Anyway, I just think it's ironic that Mattel is so sue-happy considering the commonly known history of Barbie's "creation."

[nvmbrsdoom5]

I realise this might be old news to alot of you guys so I apologise in advance.....but just wanted to mention that there is a really interesting and informative book out called "The Real Toy Story- Inside The Ruthless Battle For America's Youngest Consumers" by Eric Clark, and it has alot of really interesting stories and info about the history of the toy biz and alot of the behind the scenes dirt on what goes on at these companies and just how cutthroat and nasty some of these companies can get. In particular the book discusses Mattel at length and has alot of pretty fascinating stuff to say about them, and alot of time is dedicated specifically to discussing the ongoing Barbie vs. Bratz situation. For those interested in learning a bit more about the details of that whole thing and the ongoing lawsuit, this book sheds some interesting light on the matter.

Honestly after reading the book I'm both amazed and appalled with Mattel. I have a ton of respect for the things they've acheived and continue to acheive, but they also come off as bullies and very cold-blooded, which I suppose tends to be pretty common in the world of big business anyhow, regardless of whether it's toys or whatever business you're in. But anyhow, it's a good read, I picked it up on clearance not long ago at a local Waldenbooks and it's one of the best books I've read in a while, so I recommend it.


Amazon.com: The Real Toy Story: Inside the Ruthless Battle for America's Youngest Consumers: Eric Clark: Books