SANTA ANA, California (Reuters) - Mattel toy manufacturer suffered a defeat surprise Thursday after a jury decided U.S. MGA Entertainment owns legitimate dollar line once billion pouty lips of Bratz dolls.
The stunning loss for large manufacturer of toys the most is the latest development in a case which began in 2004, when the line of dolls MGA was fury among young girls. Mattel, Barbie the doll line rival officials, accused MGA stealing its designs by hiring away a key employee.
At the height of their popularity in 2005 and 2006, dolls urban-chic Bratz - sporting short skirts and tops flirty, confident in the stomach - eat in market share of Mattel and were considered a threat to the keys of Mattel Barbie franchise.
Mattel CEO Robert Eckert sitting pontificating as the verdict was read Thursday before a Federal Court in California. Later, he stated that he was disappointed.
"We remain committed to protect the intellectual property which is at the heart of the success of the business," Eckert said in an e-mail.
Mattel will soon file a request for a new trial, said Susan Estrich, a lawyer for the company.
CEO of the MGA Isaac Larian, said at the same time, that the case has been a long battle to his family. Larian, who left the Iran at the age of 17 years, two dolls Bratz named after his children.
"It shows very well that in America, even huge companies are not above the law", Larian said to Reuters.
A federal jury in 2008 ordered that MGA and Larian pay to Mattel $ 100 million, but a federal appellate court has launched this verdict last year.
MGA was then charged with Mattel admission to toy with false identification information fairs for stealing trade secrets and concealed evidence of these activities.
Jack Lerner, Professor at the USC Gould School of Law who has followed the case, said the new evidence allowed MGA to present a "large canvas" to the jury on the new trial, while the first trial was more circumscribed.
The jury found Mattel misappropriated trade secrets of MGA and awarded MGA 88.5 million in damages. The jury found that Mattel has acted voluntarily, and after counsel MGA verdict said that they will try to triple damages.
The jury also decided MGA has interfered with contract Mattel with designer Carter Bryant, but awarded only $10,000 in damages to Mattel.
Analyst of BMO Capital markets that Gerrick Johnson, said failure to settle will remain as an "extremely bad decision" by the Directorate of Mattel.
"This means that they wasted the 400 million or more money of the shareholder to obtain zero return", said Johnson.
U.S. District Judge David Carter said that the trade secret damage could be reduced to 88.4 million due to a calculation error by the Board.
The next hearing was set for May 24.
(Reports by Nichola Groom and Dhanya Skariachan.) Written by Dan Levine; Editing by Maureen Bavdek, Gerald e. McCormick, Matthew Lewis and Bernard Orr)
没有评论:
发表评论