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German Company Claims Barbie is Copy of Its Doll
Aired December 23, 2003 - 06:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN ANCHOR: Time now for a little 'Business Buzz.' A German company has Barbie blushing pink. But now a San Francisco court decision has her sighing with relief.
Let's go to Carrie Lee at the Nasdaq market site in New York to see just who is suing Barbie.
Hi -- Carrie.
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Holly.
Well you think about Barbie, what could be all -- more all- American, right? But a German company is actually claiming that the long-legged blonde has German root. Published Report stating that in an appeals court in San Francisco, however, Mattel, the world's largest toy maker and the producer of Barbie dolls, won a round in a court battle with this German toy company. The name of the company is called Griner and Hauser (ph). They were suing Mattel for millions of dollars in royalties for, get this, every Barbie doll sold since 1964.
Now Barbie was first introduced in 1959. Another settlement was made four years after that with Griner and Hauser who claimed Barbie was a copy of one of its own dolls. So this court decision basically reinforces that 40-year-old settlement. Had this turned out differently, a very different story for Barbie. Barbie has obviously been very successful, Holly, which is probably part of the reason this German company keeps coming after Mattel. But this has been settled as well.
FIRFER: Is nothing sacred. My goodness!
LEE: That's what it seems like.
FIRFER: I know.
All right, can you give us a little outlook for the market today?
LEE: Sure. We did see a very nice late-day rally yesterday. The Dow, the S&P 500 finishing at new 19-month highs. The Nasdaq gaining fractional ground as well. Futures pointing to a flat to slightly weak open this morning. We do have some economic reports to keep an eye on.
And in terms of stocks, AT&T Wireless could be a stock to watch. Cingular, according to "The Wall Street Journal," is considering a merger with AT&T Wireless. They are also considering an initial public offering. Either way, we'll see what AT&T Wireless does today as well as stocks overall.
Back to you.
FIRFER: All right. Carrie Lee, many thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 23, 2003 - 06:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HOLLY FIRFER, CNN ANCHOR: Time now for a little 'Business Buzz.' A German company has Barbie blushing pink. But now a San Francisco court decision has her sighing with relief.
Let's go to Carrie Lee at the Nasdaq market site in New York to see just who is suing Barbie.
Hi -- Carrie.
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Holly.
Well you think about Barbie, what could be all -- more all- American, right? But a German company is actually claiming that the long-legged blonde has German root. Published Report stating that in an appeals court in San Francisco, however, Mattel, the world's largest toy maker and the producer of Barbie dolls, won a round in a court battle with this German toy company. The name of the company is called Griner and Hauser (ph). They were suing Mattel for millions of dollars in royalties for, get this, every Barbie doll sold since 1964.
Now Barbie was first introduced in 1959. Another settlement was made four years after that with Griner and Hauser who claimed Barbie was a copy of one of its own dolls. So this court decision basically reinforces that 40-year-old settlement. Had this turned out differently, a very different story for Barbie. Barbie has obviously been very successful, Holly, which is probably part of the reason this German company keeps coming after Mattel. But this has been settled as well.
FIRFER: Is nothing sacred. My goodness!
LEE: That's what it seems like.
FIRFER: I know.
All right, can you give us a little outlook for the market today?
LEE: Sure. We did see a very nice late-day rally yesterday. The Dow, the S&P 500 finishing at new 19-month highs. The Nasdaq gaining fractional ground as well. Futures pointing to a flat to slightly weak open this morning. We do have some economic reports to keep an eye on.
And in terms of stocks, AT&T Wireless could be a stock to watch. Cingular, according to "The Wall Street Journal," is considering a merger with AT&T Wireless. They are also considering an initial public offering. Either way, we'll see what AT&T Wireless does today as well as stocks overall.
Back to you.
FIRFER: All right. Carrie Lee, many thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
