After a 4 year court battle between MGA, the Bratz makers and Mattel, Inc. who make Barbie, MGA has been ordered by a judge to stop all production of the Bratz dolls and pull them from the shelves after Christmas. I think I read somewhere they'll be pulled in February, but I can't find the source of that information. According to the article I read which quotes court records, Mattel had been investigating MGA and its executives for years due to declining Barbie sales ever since the Bratz dolls appeared in 2001. A 4 year legal battle ensued with both companies filing claims. Recently, a jury found in favor of Mattel that designer of the Bratz dolls, Carter Bryant developed and marketed the dolls to a competitor (MGA) while still working for Mattel. Read the entire article by clicking the following link http://www.walletpop.com/article/_a/bbdp/mga-ordered-to-stop-selling-bratz-dolls/267525#cmntbgn
Maybe, like me, you didn't know or care that there was a battle brewing in the land of dolls. Let's face it, many of us have bigger things to worry about in our personal lives than the fate of a line of dolls. However, I for one will not be sad to see them go away. I'm not a big fan. Also, it will end the battle in my house between my 6 year old daughter and me. She has been asking why she can't have Bratz dolls for a couple of years. My daughter even came home recently with a list of friends who are allowed to have Bratz while she is not. So I don't get in trouble here, I don't think Bratz dolls are evil. I just don't like the name, the way they dress, etc. And, my daughter has never been that much into any dolls so why should I waste money on something she'll only play with to impress her friends. I gave in on the Webkinz, actually her Nana bought it for her when I wasn't around. Still she has a couple of them now that we bought her. I put my foot down on those Bratz dolls though. There are plenty of other dolls out there. She actually has some of the Soda Pop girls which are made by the same manufacturer of Bratz. They have the big almond shaped eyes like the Bratz dolls, but are dressed in cutesy clothes and come with a pet. We were just playing with those this afternoon.
There is a chance that Mattel will keep the Bratz dolls on the shelf by producing it themselves. I hope that the next time we see the Bratz dolls will be in about 20 years on VH1's show, "I Love the New Millenium", or whatever they will call it. My niece and I were hysterical watching the "I Love the 80's" and "I Love the 90's" shows on VH1 this past summer. The show has modern comedians spoofing the fads, toys, sayings, etc. of the time period. Some of it was really funny.
Those of us who lived through the disappearance of our beloved Smurfs will be able to put this in perspective. Maybe the Bratz dolls will become collectors items, or maybe not.
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