5 ms·

Bratz: $570M and counting in legal fees in fight over copyright infringement

22 points by grellas 16y ago

Jun8 16y ago
AFAIK, this is a classic case of Innovator's Dilemma: Mattel would never have pushed sexy and different Bratz type dolls and cannibalize the Barbie line, in fact they created a similar looking line only after Bratz's success.
metabrew 16y ago
Sounds like the only winners in this fight are the lawyers.
patja 16y ago
So much time, effort, and money put into monetizing the sexualization of pre-teen girls. As a father of two young girls I have always been disgusted by Bratz and everything it stands for.
warfangle 16y ago
What if this $570m was used for creating and investigating new product lines instead? Pointless legal miasmas like this are a drag on the economy, imho..
ultrasaurus 16y ago
Just another reminder that there are a lot of markets you're probably overlooking right now (and like patio11 says, they're probably female). I never would've thought the idea "barbie needs to be more sexualized with a bigger head" would be worth $500 million just to fight over,
orev 16y ago
Good reminder on the potential issues of being a thought-worker. Companies think they own everything in your head, regardless of whether they would actually act on the idea or not. Keep that in mind as you dream up your next big startup while working at your dayjob... or even when you get home from it.
- bhickey 16y ago
  This is why I advise working for a company with a balanced IP policy. I would never consider doing otherwise. At present, all I need to do is disclose any 'potentially business related' projects to my employer. For 90 days from the date of disclosure, they have the right to negotiate purchase of any such projects. I have an obligation to negotiate in good faith, but no obligation to sell. After 90 days, their negotiation option goes up in smoke. In effect they have put in writing: "We waive our right to screw you on this point, please extend us the same courtesy."
steele 16y ago
I think one of the attorneys involved is the wife of Lift's (scala web framework) creator

22 points by grellas 16y ago

Jun8 16y ago

AFAIK, this is a classic case of Innovator's Dilemma: Mattel would never have pushed sexy and different Bratz type dolls and cannibalize the Barbie line, in fact they created a similar looking line only after Bratz's success.

metabrew 16y ago

Sounds like the only winners in this fight are the lawyers.

patja 16y ago

So much time, effort, and money put into monetizing the sexualization of pre-teen girls. As a father of two young girls I have always been disgusted by Bratz and everything it stands for.

warfangle 16y ago

What if this $570m was used for creating and investigating new product lines instead? Pointless legal miasmas like this are a drag on the economy, imho..

ultrasaurus 16y ago

Just another reminder that there are a lot of markets you're probably overlooking right now (and like patio11 says, they're probably female). I never would've thought the idea "barbie needs to be more sexualized with a bigger head" would be worth $500 million just to fight over,

orev 16y ago

Good reminder on the potential issues of being a thought-worker. Companies think they own everything in your head, regardless of whether they would actually act on the idea or not. Keep that in mind as you dream up your next big startup while working at your dayjob... or even when you get home from it.

bhickey 16y ago
This is why I advise working for a company with a balanced IP policy. I would never consider doing otherwise. At present, all I need to do is disclose any 'potentially business related' projects to my employer. For 90 days from the date of disclosure, they have the right to negotiate purchase of any such projects. I have an obligation to negotiate in good faith, but no obligation to sell. After 90 days, their negotiation option goes up in smoke. In effect they have put in writing: "We waive our right to screw you on this point, please extend us the same courtesy."

steele 16y ago

I think one of the attorneys involved is the wife of Lift's (scala web framework) creator