In another case of corporate wrangling over a beloved toy, a $100 million dollar jury verdict and judgment awarding the Bratz doll brand to Mattel, Inc. in a trademark infringement case against the doll’s designer Bryant Carter, who conceived of the doll when he was employed by Mattel and MGA, Inc., the company that developed the Bratz brand, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rendered a decision that reversed the verdict and judgment and ordered a retrial of what appears to be most of the case.

The President of the closely held MGA company thanked the Court publicly for allowing the American Dream to continue, in the form of continued ownership by MGA of the Bratz brand.  This is the same case that we reported a week ago that resulted in a $10.2 million lawsuit by O’Melveny & Meyers, Los Angeles’ largest firm against for MGA for collection of unpaid legal fees and costs incurred in defending the Bratz case up to a point.  The world’s largest law firm, Skadden Arps, represented MGA at trial.

Wonder what the appeal cost?

The “Bratz” case and Celador v. Disney and ABC, which was just reported a few days ago, show that even where popular children’s toys and entertainment are concerned, the fighting can be intense and the outlay of resources outrageous.