Bratz Verdict Seen Weakened by Low Damages Award

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Shares of Mattel Inc. fell Wednesday as investors reacted to the relatively small damages award in the Bratz doll case and the prospect that Mattel’s Barbie doll line will continue to face stiff competition from rival MGA Entertainment Inc.

A federal jury in Riverside on Tuesday awarded Mattel Inc. $100 million in damages from Van Nuys-based MGA in the hotly contested copyright infringement case, which centers on the extent to which MGA’s highly popular Bratz dolls are based on drawings by a former Mattel designer.

El Segundo-based Mattel had asked for nearly $2 billion, including more than $750 million from Isaac Larian, MGA’s chief executive and largest shareholder.

The jury found MGA, Larian and its MGA Hong Kong subsidiary liable for copyright infringement and awarded a total of $10 million in damages in that category. They also awarded about $90 million for three causes of action related to breach of contract.

But the award represents only a fraction of the revenue that the Bratz dolls have generated and continue to generate for MGA.

MGA, which plans to appeal the initial verdict in the case, also is contesting the amount of the award, calling calculations of the rulings related to the breach of contract duplicative. It contends jury only awarded $20 million.

Mattel shares closed down 59 cents, or 3 percent, to $19.65 on Wednesday in trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

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