Mattel Inc., the maker of Barbie, accused rival toymaker MGA Entertainment Inc. of stealing the idea for the pouty, multiethnic Bratz doll in 2000 when it made a deal with the designer who Mattel said worked for them when he created the doll.
Opening statements started Tuesday in Santa Ana federal court for a trial that U.S. District Judge David Carter has said may take as long as four months. Mattel is seeking damages for copyright infringement and trade-secret theft from closely held MGA, which in turn will ask the jury to hold Mattel liable for unfair competition and stealing its trade secrets.
The case returned to court after a $100 million verdict in favor of Mattel was overturned on appeal. MGA said in court filings that Mattel may seek as much as $1.1 billion in damages for its trade-secret claims.
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