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Viacom Substantially Fulfilled Agreement in Toy Programming Row, Judge Says

Viacom largely fulfilled its advertising agreement with MGA Entertainment on showing MGA's Lalaloopsy TV series, based on MGA's Lalaloopsy doll line, U.S. District Judge Manuel Real of Los Angeles said in an order entered Friday granting Viacom's final motion for…

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summary judgment on the basis of breach of contract. He called MGA's argument -- that Viacom a handful of times didn't broadcast each episode three separate times in a number of countries and thus it was excused from paying the balance of its obligations -- "nonsensical." That "Viacom achieved approximately 96 percent compliance at a minimum establishes substantial performance," Real said. The judge in July also found in Viacom's favor on other summary judgment claims in the dispute. In the most-recent order, Real set an Aug. 22 deadline for the parties to file additional briefs as to the amount owed by MGA. MGA didn't comment Friday.