Second Trial Begins in Bratz Doll Case: Opening Statements

Opening statements were made today in a Santa Ana, California federal courtroom for a trial that U.S. District Judge David Carter has said may take as long as four months. Mattel is seeking damages for copyright infringement and trade-secret theft from closely held MGA, which in turn will ask the jury to hold Mattel liable for unfair competition and stealing its trade secrets.

That's right - both sides are accusing the other side of stealing their trade secrets. This is akin to that old TV commercial: "you got your peanut butter on my chocolate!" "no, you got your chocolate on my peanut butter!"

Bloomberg is reporting that John Quinn, lead attorney for Mattel, opened with “We will prove to you that Bratz was created at Mattel. MGA took Mattel’s design and with it took Mattel’s sales.”

It is also reporting that MGA's attorney, Jennifer Keller, opened saying “MGA didn’t steal Bratz from anybody.”

More reports as they come available.