In Win for Studios, Mattel Prevails in $46 Million Suit Filed by Producer Over Allegation of Stolen Reality Show
variety.comTatiana Siegel After a high-stakes trial, a jury has found that Mattel did not steal a reality show concept from producer Norton Herrick, marking a major victory for the toy giant, which could have been on the hook for $46.2 million in damages.
The verdict follows a 2½-month civil trial in Santa Monica that pitted the “Lone Survivor” producer against the company whose intellectual property spawned the Hollywood blockbuster “Barbie.” In a crushing blow, the 12-member jury shot down Herrick’s claims of breach of an implied contract, breach of confidence, fraud-misrepresentation, fraud-concealment and misappropriation of trade secrets.
Herrick initially sued Mattel in 2018, claiming that the company stole his idea for Mattel’s reality competition show “The Toy Box,” which ran on ABC for two seasons beginning in 2017.
Back in 2014, Herrick brought a similar competition show to Mattel executives dubbed “Playmakers,” which revolved around contestants pitching their toys to child judges and winning prize money.
Read more on variety.com