MGA Accused of Not Paying Legal Bills
An article ran earlier this week on The AM Law Daily website stating that law firm “O’Melveny & Myers filed a suit against MGA Entertainment seeking payment of $10.2 million in unpaid legal fees,” relating to MGA’s long¬running legal battle with Mattel over the Bratz.
O’Melveny’s role representing MGA effectively ended three years ago, according to TheAMLaw Daily. “According to the firm’s six¬page complaint, O’Melveny was hired by MGA in May 2004 to represent the company in litigation commenced by Mattel against MGA and Carter Bryant. O’Melveny claims that MGA entered into oral agreements that were subsequently confirmed in writing about the range of legal services the firm would provide. For years, MGA paid O’Melveny’s fees, the firm states in the complaint, but eventually a billing dispute forced the firm to withdraw from the case in 2007. Since that time, O’Melveny has been unable to resolve its payment issues with its former client, according to the complaint,” says TheAM Law Daily.
William Gwire from the Gwire Law Offices is representing MGA in this suit. He told AMLaw Daily that, “O’Melveny’s complaint includes needless and malicious accusations, which are irrelevant to the dispute between the firm and MGA. Gwire claims that 300 separate O’Melveny timekeepers billed over $23 million, of which MGA has already paid $13 million. He says MGA believes it is entitled to a refund, and that the dispute itself is not limited to fees,but includes serious questions about the caliber, quality, and competency of O’Melveny’s work in the Mattel litigation, which caused losses to MGA that dwarf the amounts being claimed by O’Melveny,” according to AM Law Daily, in a story posted on its site earlier this week.
MGA Entertainment did not respond to aNb Media’s request for comment.
Michael Jackson Figures Debut from Playmates
Playmates Toys plans to unveil its Michael Jackson Collectibles for the first time as part of the Diamond Comics display at San Diego Comic Con, which takes place July 21–25. Playmates Toys, earlier this year, signed a deal with Bravado to create collectibles based on Michael Jackson.
Playmates Toys is launching 10¬inch scale collectibles, which captures Jackson’s likeness and fashions. The first 10-inch style will be Billie Jean. The second 10-inch collectible is Thriller. Both figures arewearing the signature outfits from the respective videos. These two styles will launch in the fall followed by additional styles shortly after.
Jim Henson Co. Signs European Agents
The Jim Henson Company announced that it has signed four new licensing agents in Europe. New agency agreements have been signed with Alphanim, Allicom, Ignition Licensing, and Rocket Licensing.
Alphanim will represent Sid the Science Kid and Dinosaur Train in France. Sid the Science Kid currently airs in France on France 5. The broadcaster recently acquired Dinosaur Train, which is set to debut this fall.
Allicom has signed to represent Dinosaur Train and evergreen classic Fraggle Rock in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Dinosaur Train has been licensed for broadcast to NRK Norway, YLE Finland, and SVT Sweden with a fall 2010 broadcast scheduled.
In the UK, Ignition Licensing has signed to represent Fraggle Rock. Rocket Licensing has signed to represent the lifestyle brand Skatelab, which The Jim Henson Company also oversees under its third party banner HIP Brands.
The new agreements follow the recent announcement that The Jim Henson Company signed new licensing agents for the Pacific Asia region, including Wild Pumpkin, Medialin, and Empire.
New Additions to iHobby Expo
The iHobby Expo, scheduled to take place October 21–24 at the Donald E. Stevens Convention Center in Rosemont, Il., will feature more than 200 exhibitors in 500-plus booths with 50 new first-time companies. The show is expected to host 2,000 trade attendees and 20,000 consumers.
New to the show this year, provided by the Volo Museum, is the original Herbie the Love Bug and the Dukes of Hazzard’s General Lee. Also new to this year’s Expo is an historic display based on the radio control segment of the industry. Items from 1937–present are expected to be on display. Visit www.ihobbyexpo.com for more information.
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