Unsurprising Speculation on Bratz Litigation Resolution: Licensing Agreement in the Works
Doll Dispute Edges Toward a Deal from the Los Angeles Daily Journal (for subscribers only; excerpt below)
RIVERSIDE - The Bratz doll copyright fight appears to be edging closer to a settlement, with lawyers for two dueling toy manufacturers reviewing a mediator's proposal with their clients in attempts to resolve their differences.
By Jason W. Armstrong
Daily Journal Staff WriterThe jurist overseeing the case, U.S. District Judge Stephen G. Larson, said in a case filing late Tuesday that "progress was made" at a court-ordered settlement conference Monday. He didn't go into specifics.
Last month, the court-appointed mediator, Pierre-Richard Prosper, told the judge in a hearing that while he felt the parties still had a lot of work to do to reach a settlement, they were "closer than ever" to resolving the five-year-old case, in which Mattel is fighting for control of rival MGA Entertainment's popular Bratz line. Larson then postponed discovery for a second phase of the trial to give the lawyers a chance to discuss a possible settlement with Prosper.
Although the lawyers aren't discussing the settlement talks, some intellectual property experts have speculated that resolution options for the case could include a licensing agreement in which MGA would continue making the dolls and pay Mattel a chunk of the proceeds.
The case is Bryant v. Mattel, CV04-9049 (C.D. Cal, filed 2004).
