Mattel Inc., the world’s largest toymaker, claims it owns the rights to MGA Entertainment Inc.’s Bratz dolls.
Mattel filed a request in court today to add claims to its earlier lawsuit against Carter Bryant, the creator of the Bratz dolls and a former Mattel employee. The El Segundo, California- based company said in an e-mailed statement that it won’t comment on the new claims.
Mattel’s Barbie dolls have been losing market share to closely held MGA Entertainment’s Bratz dolls. The popularity of Bratz, promoted as “the only girls with a passion for fashion,” led to a television series, a line of electronics, a magazine and products including bikes.
Mattel sued Carter Bryant, a former product designer, in 2004, claiming he breached his employment contract and duty to the company by secretly working for MGA while still at Mattel. Bryant is credited with creating the Bratz doll for MGA.
“In the past five years, Mattel has failed miserably at fair competition through product innovation,” MGA Entertainment Chief Executive Officer Isaac Larian said in a statement. “Apparently feeling they have no better option, its executive management is now resorting to filing a baseless and improper complaint against MGA and some of its employees.”
