CBS Studios is developing a new series about Bratz and Barbie’s rivalry called You Don’t Own Me. The show takes inspiration from law professor Orly Lobel’s book of the same name. CBS Studio’s decision comes amid the WGA strike.
“This entertaining and provocative work pits audacious MGA against behemoth Mattel, shows how an idea turns into a product, and explores the two different versions of womanhood, represented by traditional all-American Barbie and her defiant, anti-establishment rival―the only doll to come close to outselling her,” reads the book’s synopsis.
“In an era when workers may be asked to sign contracts granting their employers the rights to and income resulting from their ideas―whether conceived during work hours or on their own time―Lobel’s deeply researched story is a riveting and thought-provoking contribution to the contentious debate over creativity and intellectual property.”
In all, You Don’t Own Me will explore the lives of Barbie creator Ruth Handler and Bratz creator Carter Bryant, who previously worked for Mattel designing outfits for the Barbie toy line.
The toy companies got into a decade-long battle after Bryant told Mattel’s rival MGA about their concept behind Bratz.
