Seriously creepy toy

Mattel is apparently pushing their new toy - the Mindflex - at Toy Fair. What is it?
Oh, just a way for you to telekinetically control the flight of a foam ball, that's all.
Check out this video for mind-controlled awesomeness.

Barbie 'makes do' with $100 million

Despite winning it's copyright infringement lawsuit against Bratz manufacturer MGA Entertainment, Reuters is reporting that Mattel was awarded 'only' $100 million. Mattel had been seeking an award of $2 billion and it's shares fell 3.7 percent in after-hours trading. It's a drop in the bucket of what they were seeking and should allow MGA to survive this penalty.
Reportedly, Barbie (above) was on suicide watch and had strapped a belt of explosives around her waist in protest - all while still maintaining her trademark smile. Read more about the lawsuit here and here.

Barbie beats Bratz in the ultimate no-motions-barred event

Despite Bratz starting off the match with a near submission through a triangle choke, Barbie pulled a complete reversal and put Bratz into a neck crank, allowing the ref to end the match in Barbie's favor.

The jury came back in the Mattel lawsuit against Bratz, finding that the creator of the Bratz dolls, Carter Bryant, created the Bratz dolls while he was under contract as an employee of Mattel. Bryant shopped his designs to Bratz, ultimately creating a hit toy that, according to Mattel, has hurt Barbie sales over the past couple years.
They jury will come back with damages starting Wednesday. Mattel seeks an injunction against Bratz producing the dolls as well as $1 billion in damages.
An interesting verdict. From my point of view, I'm not a fan of either product. Barbie herself seems fine, it's more the fact that Mattel is generally unobtainable for a realistic price to small retailers. And Bratz, ugh. Now there's a positive role model for girls.
Read more about it in the New York Times.

Barbie vs. Bratz smackdown!

So, it turns out the dude (yes, dude) who designed the Bratz dolls was working for Mattel (Barbie) when he did. What's more, he used the Mattel fax machine to fax designs to MGA Entertainment (Bratz) and enlisted the help of Mattel co-workers in designing the dolls. Mattel didn't seem to care too much about it until the Bratz franchise helped erode Barbie's share of the market. Now they're mad. And they're going after MGA.

Check out the soap opera here.

Do you own this toy?

Mattel has yet to recall this toy medical kit. Why should it? Apparently, the red and green versions (kits with other colors tested OK) of the blood pressure cuff contain 4500 to 5900 parts per million of lead, about eight times the federally allowable amount of lead in paint. Alas, the cuff is not painted, it's plastic and the federal law only covers those items that are painted. So, technically, they're legal. Check out this New York Times article about the brouhaha.

In more Mattel related news, remember this post about Mattel's attempts to make their workplaces a better place for it's employees in their factories in China. Part of their attempt was to make the entire process transparent - to allow the public to review it's efforts. Well, they've issued a follow up report, available as a pdf file here. It's pretty interesting.

Very interesting article in the New York Times

Jonathan Dee has written an extensive article about toymaker Mattel and it's quest to be a better global citizen in it's manufacture of toys. It's an eye-opening article about the steps they have taken to make it's factories better places to work. It also talks about Mattel's recent recalls. Check it out