Last month, Judge Stepen Larson ordered the transfer to Mattel by spring 2010, after a jury found MGA liable for infringement of copyright, awarding Mattel $100 million in damages.

MGA appealed in late May to halt the transition until its appeal could be heard, but the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that MGA "had not met the prevailing standard to show a substantial likelihood of ultimate success on the merits."

The court did grant MGA's request to speed up the briefing schedule for the appeal so that a final ruling could come before year's end, when the trial judge has said the firm must stop making the dolls.

MGA chief executive Isaac Larian said in a statement that the company was pleased that the appeals court had expedited the case, but did not comment on the courts refusal to halt the transfer.

Source: Reuters

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