(HealthDay News) -- About 340,000 cancer cases in the United States could be prevented each year if more Americans ate a healthy diet, got regular exercise and limited their alcohol intake, according to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF).
These types of lifestyle changes could lead to significant reductions in particularly common cancers such as breast (38 percent fewer cases per year), stomach (47 percent fewer) and colon (45 percent fewer).
The research about how a healthy lifestyle can reduce cancer risk was released Feb. 3 to mark World Cancer Day. The WCRF said its findings are supported by the World Health Organization's new Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health, a report that says that regular physical activity can prevent many diseases, including breast and colon cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
"Physical activity is recommended for people of all ages as a means to reduce risks for certain types of cancers and other non-communicable diseases," Dr. Tim Armstrong, of WHO's Department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion, said in a WCRF news release.
"In order to improve their health and prevent several diseases, adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity throughout the week. This can be achieved by simply walking 30 minutes five times per week or by cycling to work daily," he advised.
Other healthy lifestyle habits that reduce the risk of cancer include quitting smoking, avoiding secondhand smoke, avoiding excessive sun exposure, and preventing cancer-causing infections, the WCRF said.
Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. Each year, 12.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer and 7.6 million die from the disease. But 30 percent to 40 percent of cancers can be prevented and one-third can be cured through early diagnosis and treatment, according to the WCRF.
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about cancer prevention.
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Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The drink that could make women superior!
Dear men:
Probably wise for you to skip that second giant cup of coffee.
Dear women:
Drink up.
A new study from England says that consuming coffee boosts women's brainpower when they're under stress. Unfortunately for menfolk, researchers from Bristol University say coffee has the opposite effect on male drinkers.
Participants in the study were given coffee and then put through stressful situations that included challenging puzzles and memory quizzes, making negotiations, and being told they'd have to give a public presentation of their tasks upon completion. A control group was given decaffeinated coffee before tests.
Men were found to be greatly impaired by drinking the "large shot of caffeine", slowing their pace at completing puzzles and making decisions,and having a big impact on memory.
Women who were given caffeine, however, completed puzzles a whopping 100 seconds faster, leading researchers to project that this new understanding could have widespread implications on how meetings are conducted and decisions are made globally.
Some say the military should take note. I say that if I am ever on Jeopardy, I'm totally downing an espresso before the final round -- and bringing an extra shot or two for the guy buzzing in next to me.
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Probably wise for you to skip that second giant cup of coffee.
Dear women:
Drink up.
A new study from England says that consuming coffee boosts women's brainpower when they're under stress. Unfortunately for menfolk, researchers from Bristol University say coffee has the opposite effect on male drinkers.
Participants in the study were given coffee and then put through stressful situations that included challenging puzzles and memory quizzes, making negotiations, and being told they'd have to give a public presentation of their tasks upon completion. A control group was given decaffeinated coffee before tests.
Men were found to be greatly impaired by drinking the "large shot of caffeine", slowing their pace at completing puzzles and making decisions,and having a big impact on memory.
Women who were given caffeine, however, completed puzzles a whopping 100 seconds faster, leading researchers to project that this new understanding could have widespread implications on how meetings are conducted and decisions are made globally.
Some say the military should take note. I say that if I am ever on Jeopardy, I'm totally downing an espresso before the final round -- and bringing an extra shot or two for the guy buzzing in next to me.
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Saturday, February 5, 2011
Lady Gaga Reveals Upcoming Vogue Cover, Talks Childhood Taunts: 'They Used To Call Me Rabbit Teeth'
Lady Gaga is savoring the sweet taste of success!
The fashion-forward pop princess will grace the coveted cover of Vogue magazine in March - which is especially gratifying since she says she used to be taunted for her looks.
They used to call me rabbit teeth in school," Lady Gaga Tweeted on Saturday, along with a picture of her upcoming Vogue cover. "And now I'm a real live VOGUE BEAUTY QUEEN!"
The mag's pastel-themed cover shot shows the "Poker Face" singer looking lean, draped with neutral fabrics, while rocking a pink bob, bleached eyebrows and deep purple lipstick.
*You go girl! Show them all you got it and then some. Do your thing!*
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The fashion-forward pop princess will grace the coveted cover of Vogue magazine in March - which is especially gratifying since she says she used to be taunted for her looks.
They used to call me rabbit teeth in school," Lady Gaga Tweeted on Saturday, along with a picture of her upcoming Vogue cover. "And now I'm a real live VOGUE BEAUTY QUEEN!"
The mag's pastel-themed cover shot shows the "Poker Face" singer looking lean, draped with neutral fabrics, while rocking a pink bob, bleached eyebrows and deep purple lipstick.
*You go girl! Show them all you got it and then some. Do your thing!*
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SARAH *SOCIETAL GOLD DIGGER AND SOCIAL TERRORIST* PALIN!
Take a good look America: Sarah "societal gold DiggER and social TerroriST" Palin is a HOT MESS!
DON'T VOTE PALIN! Look at what she stands for! See for yourself!
AN ALASKA HOT MESS! *A Pure Nut Case*
A SOCIAL TERRORIST HOT MESS! *Palin Loves Guns at The Expense of Others*
Get this tshirt@ www.cafepress.com/DivasHouse
A LITERARY HOT MESS! *No Values*
*Sarah Palin is not President Material*
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Palin’s PAC is facing scrutiny for her "Take Back the 20" campaign. The campaign, which has since been removed from Facebook, featured a map with a gun’s cross-hairs over 20 congressional districts controlled by Democrats. Rep. Gifford’s district was among the 20.
DON'T VOTE PALIN! Look at what she stands for! See for yourself!
AN ALASKA HOT MESS! *A Pure Nut Case*
A SOCIAL TERRORIST HOT MESS! *Palin Loves Guns at The Expense of Others*
Get this tshirt@ www.cafepress.com/DivasHouse
A LITERARY HOT MESS! *No Values*
*Sarah Palin is not President Material*
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Study: Students need more paths to career success!
The current U.S. education system is failing to prepare millions of young adults for successful careers by providing a one-size-fits-all approach, and it should take a cue from its European counterparts by offering greater emphasis on occupational instruction, a Harvard University study published Wednesday concludes.
The two-year study by the Pathways to Prosperity Project at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education notes that while much emphasis is placed in high school on going on to a four-year college, only 30 percent of young adults in the United States successfully complete a bachelor's degree.
While the number of jobs that require no post-secondary education have declined, the researchers note that only one-third of the jobs created in the coming years are expected to need a bachelor's degree or higher. Roughly the same amount will need just an associate's degree or an occupational credential.
"What I fear is the continuing problem of too many kids dropping by the wayside and the other problem of kids going into debt, and going into college but not completing with a degree or certificate," said Robert Schwartz, who heads the project and is academic dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. "Almost everybody can cite some kid who marched off to college because it was the only socially legitimate thing to do but had no real interest."
The report highlights an issue that has been percolating among education circles: That school reform should include more emphasis on career-driven alternatives to a four-year education.
The study recommends a "comprehensive pathways network" that would include three elements: embracing multiple approaches to help youth make the transition to adulthood, involving the nation's employers in things like work-based learning, and creating a new social compact with young people.
Many of the ideas aren't new, and leaders, including President Barack Obama, have advocated for an increased role for community colleges so the country can once again lead the world in the proportion of college graduates.
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan delivered opening remarks at the report's release in Washington on Wednesday, saying career and technical education has been "the neglected stepchild of education reform."
"That neglect has to stop," Duncan said.
But the idea of providing more alternatives, rather than emphasizing a four-year college education for all, hasn't been without controversy. Critics fear students who opt early for a vocational approach might limit their options later on, or that disadvantaged students at failing schools would be pushed into technical careers and away from the highly selective colleges where their numbers are already very slim.
"Nobody who spends much time in America's high schools could possibly argue that they are focused on college for all, or ever have been," said Kati Haycock, president of The Education Trust, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based think tank. "Most schools still resist that idea, instead continuing long-standing, unfair practices of sorting and selecting like an educational caste system — directing countless young people, especially low-income students and students of color, away from college-prep courses and from seeing themselves as 'college material.'"
Schwartz said efforts should be intensified to get more low-income and minority students into selective institutions, while also strengthening the capacity of two-year colleges.
"You've got to work on both fronts at once," Schwartz said.
The study recommends that all major occupations be clearly outlined at the start of high school. Students would see directly how their course choices prepare them careers that interest them — but still be able to change their minds. Students should also be given more opportunities for work-based learning, such as job shadowing and internships.
Students, the researchers recommend, should get career counseling and work-related opportunities early on — no later than middle school. In high school, students would have access to educational programs designed with the help of industry leaders, and they'd be able to participate in paid internships.
The report notes that many European countries already have such an approach, and that their youth tend to have a smoother transition into adulthood. And not all separate children into different paths at an early age. Finland and Denmark, for example, provide all students with a comprehensive education through grades 9 or 10. Then they are allowed to decide what type of secondary education they'd like to pursue.
Barney Bishop, president and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida, said he would advocate for an approach that provides more alternatives and greater inclusion of the business community.
"The problem for the business community is where you have kids who don't have the rudimentary skills, and you have to take the time and effort to train them, get them some of the rudimentary skills, plus the special skills," he said.
Sandy Baum, an independent higher education policy analyst, said she think there needs to be more counseling in advising students about how to make the right choices.
"I don't think the problem is too many people going to four-year colleges," she said. "The problem is too many people making inappropriate choices.
"What we'd like is a system where people of all backgrounds could choose to be plumbers or to be philosophers," Baum added. "Those options are not open. But we certainly need plumbers so it's wrong to think we should be nervous about directing people in that route."
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The two-year study by the Pathways to Prosperity Project at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education notes that while much emphasis is placed in high school on going on to a four-year college, only 30 percent of young adults in the United States successfully complete a bachelor's degree.
While the number of jobs that require no post-secondary education have declined, the researchers note that only one-third of the jobs created in the coming years are expected to need a bachelor's degree or higher. Roughly the same amount will need just an associate's degree or an occupational credential.
"What I fear is the continuing problem of too many kids dropping by the wayside and the other problem of kids going into debt, and going into college but not completing with a degree or certificate," said Robert Schwartz, who heads the project and is academic dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. "Almost everybody can cite some kid who marched off to college because it was the only socially legitimate thing to do but had no real interest."
The report highlights an issue that has been percolating among education circles: That school reform should include more emphasis on career-driven alternatives to a four-year education.
The study recommends a "comprehensive pathways network" that would include three elements: embracing multiple approaches to help youth make the transition to adulthood, involving the nation's employers in things like work-based learning, and creating a new social compact with young people.
Many of the ideas aren't new, and leaders, including President Barack Obama, have advocated for an increased role for community colleges so the country can once again lead the world in the proportion of college graduates.
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan delivered opening remarks at the report's release in Washington on Wednesday, saying career and technical education has been "the neglected stepchild of education reform."
"That neglect has to stop," Duncan said.
But the idea of providing more alternatives, rather than emphasizing a four-year college education for all, hasn't been without controversy. Critics fear students who opt early for a vocational approach might limit their options later on, or that disadvantaged students at failing schools would be pushed into technical careers and away from the highly selective colleges where their numbers are already very slim.
"Nobody who spends much time in America's high schools could possibly argue that they are focused on college for all, or ever have been," said Kati Haycock, president of The Education Trust, a nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based think tank. "Most schools still resist that idea, instead continuing long-standing, unfair practices of sorting and selecting like an educational caste system — directing countless young people, especially low-income students and students of color, away from college-prep courses and from seeing themselves as 'college material.'"
Schwartz said efforts should be intensified to get more low-income and minority students into selective institutions, while also strengthening the capacity of two-year colleges.
"You've got to work on both fronts at once," Schwartz said.
The study recommends that all major occupations be clearly outlined at the start of high school. Students would see directly how their course choices prepare them careers that interest them — but still be able to change their minds. Students should also be given more opportunities for work-based learning, such as job shadowing and internships.
Students, the researchers recommend, should get career counseling and work-related opportunities early on — no later than middle school. In high school, students would have access to educational programs designed with the help of industry leaders, and they'd be able to participate in paid internships.
The report notes that many European countries already have such an approach, and that their youth tend to have a smoother transition into adulthood. And not all separate children into different paths at an early age. Finland and Denmark, for example, provide all students with a comprehensive education through grades 9 or 10. Then they are allowed to decide what type of secondary education they'd like to pursue.
Barney Bishop, president and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida, said he would advocate for an approach that provides more alternatives and greater inclusion of the business community.
"The problem for the business community is where you have kids who don't have the rudimentary skills, and you have to take the time and effort to train them, get them some of the rudimentary skills, plus the special skills," he said.
Sandy Baum, an independent higher education policy analyst, said she think there needs to be more counseling in advising students about how to make the right choices.
"I don't think the problem is too many people going to four-year colleges," she said. "The problem is too many people making inappropriate choices.
"What we'd like is a system where people of all backgrounds could choose to be plumbers or to be philosophers," Baum added. "Those options are not open. But we certainly need plumbers so it's wrong to think we should be nervous about directing people in that route."
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Palin trademark application refused -- for now!
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's bid to trademark her name and that of her daughter, Bristol, ran into trouble at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office because the application forms were unsigned, government records show.
Applications to trademark the names Sarah Palin and Bristol Palin, both for "motivational speaking services," were filed on November 5 by the Palins' longtime family attorney, Thomas Van Flein, but were quickly slapped down by a trademark examiner.
"Registration is refused because the applied-for mark, SARAH PALIN, consists of a name identifying a particular living individual whose consent to register the mark is not of record," the patent agency said in an office action.
"Please note this refusal will be withdrawn if applicant provides written consent from the individual identified in the applied-for mark," the patent office said.
The office also said Palin's application failed to show that her name had been used in commerce and could also be rejected on those grounds.
Bristol Palin's application also will need to be redone, according to a similar office action filed in her case.
The applications will be fixed, and the trademarks are likely to be granted, said attorney John Tiemessen, now handling the trademark process for Palin.
"We're working on it," Tiemessen told Reuters.
Tiemessen is with the law firm Clapp, Peterson, Tiemessen, Thorsness, Johnson, LLC.
Palin, the Republican nominee for vice president in 2008, has become one of the most recognizable names in U.S. politics and a darling of the conservative Tea Party movement that helped sweep Republicans to a majority in the House of Representatives during the 2010 elections.
Her daughter, Bristol, became a fan sensation as a contestant on the popular ABC show "Dancing with the Stars."
An unwed, single mom as a teenager, Bristol has also increasingly made a name for herself giving talks about teen pregnancy and abstinence from sex.
Both women also have staked out careers on the lecture circuit, as their trademark applications attest.
The governor seeks to register her name in conjunction with "providing motivational speaking services in the field of politics, culture, business and values," her application says.
It also cites her services in "providing a website featuring information about political issues."
Her daughter seeks to trademark in connection with her role as a motivational speaker "in the field of life choices."
Legal experts said it is relatively unusual for politicians to formally trademark their names because they are generally not associated with commercially valuable products or services. Trademarking a name is more common for celebrities in the fields of entertainment, fashion or sports.
"There's difference between being famous and being a brand," said Claudia Ray, a partner in the New York-based firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP, which specializes in trademark law.
"Sarah is somebody who is now out of government and pursuing other activities, in particular, speaking engagements ... and it looks like she's looking to protect her name with those activities."
Jim Vana, a partner with the Seattle trademark law firm Perkins Coie, said safeguarding exclusive rights to one's own name is just part of the story.
"It helps to turn your fame and recognition into a brand that you can use to promote business services," he said.
*This is a tragedy in all aspects. Sarah "societal gold digger and social terrorist Palin" should fall back and go hide in her Alaska wilderness."
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Applications to trademark the names Sarah Palin and Bristol Palin, both for "motivational speaking services," were filed on November 5 by the Palins' longtime family attorney, Thomas Van Flein, but were quickly slapped down by a trademark examiner.
"Registration is refused because the applied-for mark, SARAH PALIN, consists of a name identifying a particular living individual whose consent to register the mark is not of record," the patent agency said in an office action.
"Please note this refusal will be withdrawn if applicant provides written consent from the individual identified in the applied-for mark," the patent office said.
The office also said Palin's application failed to show that her name had been used in commerce and could also be rejected on those grounds.
Bristol Palin's application also will need to be redone, according to a similar office action filed in her case.
The applications will be fixed, and the trademarks are likely to be granted, said attorney John Tiemessen, now handling the trademark process for Palin.
"We're working on it," Tiemessen told Reuters.
Tiemessen is with the law firm Clapp, Peterson, Tiemessen, Thorsness, Johnson, LLC.
Palin, the Republican nominee for vice president in 2008, has become one of the most recognizable names in U.S. politics and a darling of the conservative Tea Party movement that helped sweep Republicans to a majority in the House of Representatives during the 2010 elections.
Her daughter, Bristol, became a fan sensation as a contestant on the popular ABC show "Dancing with the Stars."
An unwed, single mom as a teenager, Bristol has also increasingly made a name for herself giving talks about teen pregnancy and abstinence from sex.
Both women also have staked out careers on the lecture circuit, as their trademark applications attest.
The governor seeks to register her name in conjunction with "providing motivational speaking services in the field of politics, culture, business and values," her application says.
It also cites her services in "providing a website featuring information about political issues."
Her daughter seeks to trademark in connection with her role as a motivational speaker "in the field of life choices."
Legal experts said it is relatively unusual for politicians to formally trademark their names because they are generally not associated with commercially valuable products or services. Trademarking a name is more common for celebrities in the fields of entertainment, fashion or sports.
"There's difference between being famous and being a brand," said Claudia Ray, a partner in the New York-based firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP, which specializes in trademark law.
"Sarah is somebody who is now out of government and pursuing other activities, in particular, speaking engagements ... and it looks like she's looking to protect her name with those activities."
Jim Vana, a partner with the Seattle trademark law firm Perkins Coie, said safeguarding exclusive rights to one's own name is just part of the story.
"It helps to turn your fame and recognition into a brand that you can use to promote business services," he said.
*This is a tragedy in all aspects. Sarah "societal gold digger and social terrorist Palin" should fall back and go hide in her Alaska wilderness."
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*Join The Conversation*
Friday, February 4, 2011
Sarah Palin files paperwork to trademark her name!
With a reality show and two books under her belt, Sarah Palin has become a one-woman industry, and now she's seeking to protect her brand.
As Politics Daily's Suzi Parker reports, Palin recently filed paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark her name, as well as the name of her oldest daughter Bristol, who's become something of a celebrity brand in her own right.
Palin's paperwork was filed in November, shortly before the premiere of her TLC show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska." Bristol Palin's application was filed in September, a few days before she began her own reality TV stint on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." The applications are still pending, amid several queries by the Patent office.
It's hard for an individual to trademark their name, but it's not without precedent. Pop singer-songwriter Billy Joel has done it, for example. If Palin's applications are granted, many politicians seeking to keep tighter commercial control of their images may well follow suit.
Since President Obama was elected, the White House has openly grumbled about advertisers using Obama's name and likeness to sell products. Last year, Obama aides publicly complained after the Weatherproof Garment Company installed a billboard in Times Square showing Obama wearing one of its jackets on a trip to China. But there was little the administration could legally do, since Obama's image and name aren't legally protected. The billboard was eventually removed—though not because of complaints.
*Seriously! This is a crazy!*
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As Politics Daily's Suzi Parker reports, Palin recently filed paperwork with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to trademark her name, as well as the name of her oldest daughter Bristol, who's become something of a celebrity brand in her own right.
Palin's paperwork was filed in November, shortly before the premiere of her TLC show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska." Bristol Palin's application was filed in September, a few days before she began her own reality TV stint on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." The applications are still pending, amid several queries by the Patent office.
It's hard for an individual to trademark their name, but it's not without precedent. Pop singer-songwriter Billy Joel has done it, for example. If Palin's applications are granted, many politicians seeking to keep tighter commercial control of their images may well follow suit.
Since President Obama was elected, the White House has openly grumbled about advertisers using Obama's name and likeness to sell products. Last year, Obama aides publicly complained after the Weatherproof Garment Company installed a billboard in Times Square showing Obama wearing one of its jackets on a trip to China. But there was little the administration could legally do, since Obama's image and name aren't legally protected. The billboard was eventually removed—though not because of complaints.
*Seriously! This is a crazy!*
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Female circumcision migrating to West: IOM
Female genital mutilation has established itself in Western countries in recent years because of growing migration flows, the head of an international migration agency said on Friday.
"With the growth in migration in recent years, the phenomenon has unfortunately reached Europe (and) the United States," said William Lacy Swing, head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
In an event to mark the international day of "zero tolerance" to female genital mutilation, Swing highlighted European Parliament estimates of 500,000 circumcised women living in Europe.
The IOM estimates that 100-140 million women and girls have suffered from the traditional practice.
Most of the victims are in Africa, with a few cases in Indonesia and Malaysia, according to the Inter Parliamentary Union, an association of world parliaments.
Nonetheless, it is on the wane in "many African countries" including Burkina Faso, Ghana and Ethiopia, according to African anti-circumcision campaign group CIAF.
"It's torture. Knives are used to cut the most sensitive part of the body," said CIAF head Berhane Ras-Work.
Nineteen African and 12 European countries, as well Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, have adopted laws outlawing female genital mutilation.
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"With the growth in migration in recent years, the phenomenon has unfortunately reached Europe (and) the United States," said William Lacy Swing, head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
In an event to mark the international day of "zero tolerance" to female genital mutilation, Swing highlighted European Parliament estimates of 500,000 circumcised women living in Europe.
The IOM estimates that 100-140 million women and girls have suffered from the traditional practice.
Most of the victims are in Africa, with a few cases in Indonesia and Malaysia, according to the Inter Parliamentary Union, an association of world parliaments.
Nonetheless, it is on the wane in "many African countries" including Burkina Faso, Ghana and Ethiopia, according to African anti-circumcision campaign group CIAF.
"It's torture. Knives are used to cut the most sensitive part of the body," said CIAF head Berhane Ras-Work.
Nineteen African and 12 European countries, as well Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, have adopted laws outlawing female genital mutilation.
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MGA files antitrust case against Mattel over Bratz!
Barbie Against Bratz doll!
MGA Entertainment Inc. filed an antitrust lawsuit Thursday against Mattel Inc., its archrival in the world of fashion dolls.
The case is the latest volley in an ongoing dispute over MGA's Bratz dolls. It was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles and alleges unfair business practices and anticompetitive conduct.
MGA claims Mattel used a "scorched earth strategy" to infiltrate confidential showrooms at industry events to copy new Bratz products, rearrange Barbie and Bratz displays at retailers, intimidate licensees and pay retailers not to buy MGA products.
MGA claims Mattel uses litigation instead of competition to protect Barbie's monopoly over the fashion doll market and deprive consumers of choices.
The lawsuit also names Mattel CEO Robert Eckert, who it says "embraced the 'litigate MGA to death' strategy — a whatever it takes process Mattel successfully employed to destroy the approximate $1 billion net worth of MGA, as well as the 'Kill Bratz' and 'Operation Cast Doubt on Bratz' battle plan to poison MGA in the marketplace."
The case opens a new front in the battle over the right to make and market Bratz dolls — the sassy, street-wise line that flew off the shelves when it was introduced and gave Barbie a run for her money.
Two years ago, a federal jury awarded Mattel $100 million and found that Bratz designer Carter Bryant had developed the concept for the Bratz dolls while working for Mattel. An appeals court later overturned the verdict and the retrial is under way in Santa Ana.
Since Bratz dolls first hit shelves in 2001, Los Angeles-based MGA has sold $3.3 billion in related products, with $292 million in profits, according to Mattel. The doll also decreased Mattel's Barbie profits by $393 million.
*Barbie is always the Queen of Baby dolls!*
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*Join The Conversation*
MGA Entertainment Inc. filed an antitrust lawsuit Thursday against Mattel Inc., its archrival in the world of fashion dolls.
The case is the latest volley in an ongoing dispute over MGA's Bratz dolls. It was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles and alleges unfair business practices and anticompetitive conduct.
MGA claims Mattel used a "scorched earth strategy" to infiltrate confidential showrooms at industry events to copy new Bratz products, rearrange Barbie and Bratz displays at retailers, intimidate licensees and pay retailers not to buy MGA products.
MGA claims Mattel uses litigation instead of competition to protect Barbie's monopoly over the fashion doll market and deprive consumers of choices.
The lawsuit also names Mattel CEO Robert Eckert, who it says "embraced the 'litigate MGA to death' strategy — a whatever it takes process Mattel successfully employed to destroy the approximate $1 billion net worth of MGA, as well as the 'Kill Bratz' and 'Operation Cast Doubt on Bratz' battle plan to poison MGA in the marketplace."
The case opens a new front in the battle over the right to make and market Bratz dolls — the sassy, street-wise line that flew off the shelves when it was introduced and gave Barbie a run for her money.
Two years ago, a federal jury awarded Mattel $100 million and found that Bratz designer Carter Bryant had developed the concept for the Bratz dolls while working for Mattel. An appeals court later overturned the verdict and the retrial is under way in Santa Ana.
Since Bratz dolls first hit shelves in 2001, Los Angeles-based MGA has sold $3.3 billion in related products, with $292 million in profits, according to Mattel. The doll also decreased Mattel's Barbie profits by $393 million.
*Barbie is always the Queen of Baby dolls!*
Diva's Nation
*Join The Conversation*
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