Part
01h Feature
Story - Barbie
Updates: April 28, 2009
U.S.
District Court Judge Stephen Larson in Riverside
decision, allows Matell to win $-Millions in
the Barbie vs Bratz Doll copyright infringment
action.
The Federal Court order was a sweeping victory for
El Segundo-based Mattel -- the maker of the Barbie
Doll. It was just last year in July 2008, that a
jury found that the Bratz line, headed by
Isaac Larian of MGA,
was created by a designer that once worked for
Mattel under exclusive contract when he came up
with the idea for Bratz dolls. The LA Times
reported on April 28, 2009, that --
Isaac Larian, the outspoken entrepreneur of MGA,
who has made a fortune off the popular copyrighted
Bratz dolls, was ordered by
U.S. District Court Judge
Stephen Larson late Monday, April 27, 2009,
to hand control of his company to a temporary court
appointed receiver, attorney
Patrick Fraioli Jr..
The Beverly Hills receiver, Fraioli was given
sweeping powers to "manage, supervise and oversee
the assets of the MGA entities and the Bratz
brand." The Judge scheduled a hearing for May 18,
2009 -- on whether to make the receiver
permanent.
To be more specific, and accurate on the
details, the order stated that "good cause exists
to believe that the MGA parties . . . and Isaac
Larian . . . have engaged in, are engaging in or
are about to engage in transactions, acts,
practices and courses of business that constitute
fraudulent transfers of assets and violations of
Mattel's ownership and other rights in and to the
Bratz brand and Bratz
assets." Mattel Inc. To Get Control of Bratz
Assets,
and Court Affirms MGA Must Pay $100-Million
Fine.
In addition, MGA Entertainment Inc., based in Van
Nuys, can no longer produce or distribute the sassy
dolls. That's because U.S. District Court Judge
Stephen Larson also lifted his stay of an order
giving archrival Mattel Inc. control of the Bratz
assets.
In addition, the court order affirmed a
$100-million fine for MGA and Larian, who the jury
found had played a role in the contract breach.
Receiver, attorney Patrick Fraioli Jr. -- will
oversee the assets and operation of MGA, which
began making the dolls in 2001 and turned them into
a worldwide phenomenon that challenged the reign of
fashion doll queen Barbie.
In The
December, 2008 Court Order -- Mattel was granted the ownership of key
copyrights for the dolls and even the Bratz name.
MGA was allowed to continue to make and sell the
dolls pending further rulings.
The Appointment
of Receiver was Immediate.
The Dec 2008 ruling ending on April 27th. Judge
Larson issued the receivership order, which said
MGA and Larian were involved "in transactions,
acts, practices and courses of business that
constitute fraudulent transfers of assets and
violations of Mattel's ownership." Mattel had
accused Larian several times of trying to shield
assets.
The order further directed the Beverly Hill
receiver, Fraioli, to "investigate the financial
affairs" of the company from the time of the jury
decision in July 2008. Larson's order said the
receiver could take any action deemed necessary to
"collect, preserve or protect the Bratz assets" and
could investigate "to uncover concealed Bratz
assets and/or fraudulent conveyances."
Shortly after
the Judge Larson ruling -- Bratz responded. Larian said in an e-mail: "I'm very
disappointed in this order and plan to appeal
immediately." He declined further comment --
uncharacteristic for a man who seldom shied from
making his views known on Mattel or court
actions.
Larian, who was named an Ernst & Young
entrepreneur of the year in 2007, arrived in the
United States from Iran in 1971 and worked as a
busboy to earn his way through college.
He built the Bratz brand -- which featured dolls in
tight-fitting outfits that upset some parents who
believed them too racy -- into such a worldwide
force, industry experts said it was a major factor
in diminishing Barbie sales.
The Bratz company, was still making several
versions of the Bratz dolls as well as some other
toys, at the time of the hearing., Bratz has about
1,500 employees.
Larian often publicly chided Mattel and trumpeted
his own victories. The executive portrayed himself
as an all-American success story during the trial
and remained defiant even when the judge took away
the Bratz copyrights.
"We will come out on top in the end," he said.
Mattel representatives declined to discuss the
ruling. Bratz plans to appeal.
Part
02h What's
the
Mattel vs
Bratz action about A Copyright Infringement in
Action.
Internet
Archives Library
- A Chronological History of Electrical Development
from 600 B.C.
1892 NATHAN B. STUBBLEFIELD ( ) demonstrates a
radio broadcast. In 1902 he gave a public
exhibition of his invention in Fairmont Park,
Philadelphia, his voice being heard a mile from the
transmitter. He was granted Patent No. 887,357, May
12, 1908.
SMART
DAAF BOYS - The history of radio and tevision and
the life and style of Nathan B. Stubblefield. A
Four-Volume-Set written by Troy Cory-Stubblefield
and Josie Cory, Desktop Dictionary: Research:
Co-Author: Mark Sova. Includes the
Cory/Woods/Harris Washington D.C. demonstrations in
1992 at the Smithsonian. Elliot Sivowitch in
attendance
Edwards,
Frank 1959 - "Neglected Genius," Stranger Than
Science, Lyle Stuart, Inc., pgs. 9-11
[NOTE: I've found that most of the stories that
Edwards presents in Stranger Than Science are
originally from accounts in FATE Magazine, for
which he wrote several articles and was apparently
a regular reader. So, it seems likely there is an
account of Stubblefield's wireless somewhere within
the pages of FATE, which I will check on.]
Hoffer, Thomas W. 1971
- "Nathan B. Stubblefield and His Wireless
Telephone," Journal of Broadcasting, Vol. XV, No.3,
Summer 1971, pg.
317-329.
Horten,
L.J. - 1937 - "Another 'Inventor of Radio,"
Broadcasting and Broadcast Advertising, January 1,
1937, pg. 32 [NOTE: The entire text of a radio
broadcast made by Horton is quoted within the text
of this article, and this is what is referenced
here.] Kane, Joseph
Nathan.
1933
- "Radio Broadcast," Famous First Facts, 1933, pg.
423 Lambert, Edward C.
1970
- "Let's hear it for Bernard Stubblefield!", TV
Guide, October 10, 1970, pg. 18-20 Monument (author
unknown)
1930
- Text from the Stubblefield monument on the campus
of the Murray State College in Murray, Kentucky. It
reads thus: HERE IN 1902 NATHAN B. STUBBLEFIELD
1860 - 1928 INVENTOR OF RADIO -- BROADCAST AND
RECEIVED THE HUMAN VOICE BY WIRELESS. HE MADE
EXPERIMENTS 10 YEARS EARLIER. HIS HOME WAS 100 FEET
WEST
Sivowitch,
Elliot N. 1970 - "A Technological Survey of
Broadcasting's 'Pre-History,' 1876-1920," Journal
of Broadcasting, Vol. XV, No.1, Winter 970-1971,
pg. 1-20.
World Book:
1961a - "Induction, Electric," World Book
Encyclopedia, Vol. 9, 1961, pg. 178
1961b - "Radio, History," World Book Encyclopedia,
Vol. 15, 1961, pg. 87
Selected
Episodes, of the Stubblefield Story, with limited
TelePlay rights, can be purchased for $39.95 on
Amazon.com in the VHS, DVD category. At will - Shop at:Amazon.com,
Search
VHS,
then type
inTelePlay Preview,
then
click
GO. Or
Click Here To Go Direct To Amazon.com - TelePlay
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