Toy giant Mattel wins Bratz copyright case

Toy manufacturer Mattel Inc. has won a major victory in its copyright infringement lawsuit against the maker of the rival Bratz dolls.

A jury ruled today that a designer conceived the doll characters while working for Mattel, the world’s largest toymaker.

The ruling could potentially mean millions of dollars for Mattel when the jury considers possible damages during a separate proceeding.

The jury reached its verdict in the lawsuit filed in US District Court in Riverside, California.

The news of the verdict came after the close of regular-session trading on Wall Street, but Mattel’s shares shot up $1.22, or 6.7%, to $19.50 in after-hours dealings.