Mattel appeals ruling in favor of "Gratz doll" owner

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. toy giant Mattel has appealed a federal judge's award of over 309 million U.S. dollars in legal fees and damages to its main rival MGA Entertainment on Thursday, but it did not give reasons for the challenge.

The El Segundo, California-based toy maker, famous for developing world-famous Barbie dolls and other toys, filed papers through its attorneys at a federal court in Santa Ana, challenging U.S. District Judge David O. Carter's ruling in favor of MGA, but it failed to explain its reasons of the move.

According to the ruling which was handed down last Thursday, Mattel should pay 107.8 million dollars in attorneys' fees and over 32 million dollars in other legal costs arising from the years-long legal battle, and it should also pay 170 million dollars in damages.

The ruling, which represents a reversal of fortune, comes in the wake of a three-month trial and eight days of deliberations. Jurors on April 21 found that MGA, a Los Angeles-based toy maker which has been in business since 1979, did not steal any secrets from Mattel and that Mattel did not own the idea for the Bratz dolls.

Bratz, introduced in 2001 and characterized by pouty lips, hip hop-style clothing and oversized feet, targets girls ages 9 to 11 as the company's most successful product line.

The ruling marked a reversal from August 2008 when a federal jury in Riverside, California, ruled in favor of Mattel in its civil suit alleging MGA had committed copyright infringement and conspired to breach Bryant's contract with Mattel.

The 100 million-dollar award to Mattel was overturned by the U. S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals last year, leading to the Santa Ana retrial.