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Judge Orders Bratz Dolls Removed from Shelves—After the Holidays

Posted Dec 4, 2008 5:59 AM CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss

Holiday sales of Bratz dolls will be allowed to continue despite a federal judge’s recall order yesterday in an infringement suit against MGA Entertainment.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Larson issued a permanent injunction banning MGA from selling the dolls or using the Bratz name, but stayed enforcement until Feb. 11, according to the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) and Reuters. At that time, MGA will argue a motion to set aside a $100 million verdict against it in the infringement and contractual rights suit by Mattel Inc.

"Mattel has established its exclusive rights to the Bratz drawings, and the court has found that hundreds of the MGA parties' products—including all the currently available core female fashion dolls Mattel was able to locate in the marketplace—infringe those rights," Larson wrote in yesterday’s ruling.

The Wall Street Journal calls the order “a sweeping legal victory.” MGA said it would appeal.

At the time of the original damages verdict, MGA had proclaimed victory because the jury’s $100 million award was far short of the $2 billion that Mattel had sought. In the first phase of the trial, jurors had found designer Carter Bryant created the concept for the doll when he was working for Mattel.

Comments

1.

isabel
Dec 4, 2008 8:35 AM CST

The judge should have done something better: BAN the production of this sexualization of women as tor for girls. It is rididculuos that Americans are alowing girls to grow up with this kind of toys. That surely has been created with a mind of a porno consumer.  Parents should join force and sue the company for creating such a damaging image to girls. Now there is also a whole chain of by products based on this sexualization of girls.  We have to stop it.

2.

NativeNewYorker
Dec 4, 2008 11:17 AM CST

The first time I saw a Bratz doll five years ago, I could not believe it was a doll for children, but rather a composite of a blow-up doll.  The girls in my family laughed at it suspiciously, sarcastically asking about the “Pimp Doll”, like Barbie’s Ken.

3.

Jessicia
Dec 5, 2008 11:26 AM CST

I think that some of the clothing for the dolls is a little provocative but why are you going to blame in inanimate figure for the way a girl grows up? Isn’t it our job as the parents to show these girls that they are dolls and only dolls and that the way they look is not what society is about? Isn’t it our job as parents to let your little girl know that this is not way life is lived and that it is only a doll? Before parents start blaming dolls for the way their children grow up, they should start taking a look at the way they raised them. I guess Barbie should be banned since she portrays to girls that if you want to be happy in life, you have to be rich and have everything materialistic in life…

4.

wanda
Dec 6, 2008 7:16 AM CST

I believe the reason the bratz dolls are being removed is because the Barbie dolls are’nt selling like they did when they first came out. The bratz have taken the place of barbie in all households. So why punish the children that loves the dolls.  I think it’s time for Barbie and Ken to retire. You need to look at the culture of the kids.

5.

Jane
Dec 7, 2008 1:20 PM CST

I can not believe that some people are actually harping on the ‘sexiness’ of this doll.  It is a DOLL! Granted, a slim doll, but a doll none-the-less.  As for the impact to our children, I do not think a doll will turn any child into a future porno star. The image?  Perhaps the message being sent is not all that bad.  American is a county that lives in excess, and this is being displayed very clearly in the average American’s weight.

6.

Gina
Dec 10, 2008 6:55 PM CST

I’m glad these Bratz dolls are being removed. 

As a person with common sense, and a psychology major, I can see the subconcious psychological effects toys can have on children. 

Dolls, including action figures usually for boys, give children a negative self image of themselves. 

Even if adults talk to their children, they do not realize that children are quick to pick things up and very impressionable.  They will realize that this is what is considered “attractive”. 

Your child may not want to look like a bratz doll or a muscular action figure, but subconciously they are interpreting it as the standard for attractiveness and success. 

I recommend investing in an educational doll known as American Girl.

7.

Strawbery
Dec 15, 2008 12:27 PM CST

I can not hardly believe how all these people are freaking out about these freaking dolls.  What about Barbie…how long has she been around and she is even more of a cause for anorexia than those darn BRATZ dolls… and the BRATZ wear underwear too and have larger feet… 

So, they dress in little clothing…have you seen Britney Spears? she is all over the TV… I say leave the poor dolls alone, my daughter loves them…. if we VIEW them as kids toys….they will be, but if too many ignorant adults can not get over the fact that it is a DOLL!  then, it will ruin it for the rest of us…  why not get rid of Barbie if we are all going to have the trouble with these dolls….?

My 2 sense!

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