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In Federal Copyright Trial, Mattel Says Rival Stole Bratz Doll Concept
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Mattel reached a confidential settlement with Bryant last week and dropped its lawsuit against him. He is expected to testify at the trial.
Barbie sales have slid since the pouty-lipped Bratz line hit shelves in 2001.
If jurors find that Mattel's rights were infringed, the toymaker could collect hundreds of millions of dollars in licensing fees from MGA.
Quinn said MGA never pursued the development of fashion dolls until Bryant approached the company with the Bratz drawings.
Later, Larian tried to conceal Bryant's involvement by telling employees not to mention Bryant's name, Quinn alleged.
"MGA couldn't keep it a secret forever. It was too big," Quinn said.
Bryant was identified as the creator of the Bratz line in a 2003 article in the Wall Street Journal.
Bryant has said that he became inspired to create Bratz between the two stints at Mattel and that it wasn't anything more than an idea until he left the company.
Nolan hinted that Mattel was jealous that its competitor snagged the profitable concept.
"In the end, MGA took the risk to bring Bratz into the market," Nolan said. "Mattel is not entitled to what they didn't think of or what they didn't manufacture."
Mattel filed the original lawsuit four years ago. The company also alleges that MGA tried to boost its profit by pilfering other confidential and proprietary information.
MGA also denied those allegations.
