Say goodbye to Bratz -- and good riddance!

Ultimately, the battle over Bratz was about money, but those of us who loathe the hideous line of hypersexual dolls can take heart nonetheless. Barbie has won out, and while it's not exactly a moral victory, at least there's hope that the toy aisles will be a bit more wholesome -- for a while, anyway. That's because a judge ruled yesterday that the maker of the Bratz line must immediately stop production of the dolls, and after the Christmas shopping season must clear retailer's shelves of the product line.

It's enough to make you want to walk into a Toys R Us just to celebrate.

In case you don't know, toy giant Mattel sued Bratz maker MGA Entertainment for copyright infringement because the designer of the original four Bratz dolls actually created the designs while working for Mattel. Oops. Can you say "opportunist"? (Read the whole story here).

MGA used the designs to launch a tween doll phenomenon -- albeit a repugnant one to anyone who values innocence and wholesomeness for girls. In the process, MGA made some $778 million dollars. Obviously, Mattel would have preferred the chance to clean up on the collagen-lipped, anexoria-shaped biker dolls. So they sued. And who wouldn't really? If anyone was going to have the chance to corrupt the innocence of America's little girls, it should have been Mattel, gosh darnit.

It's sad that the vile little dolls represented such a huge profit in the first place, but unfortunately, toy makers know America's moms and dads too well. The cultural quest to be cool permeates all the way to toddlerhood (case in point: "'Lil Bratz" -- the baby doll version of the streetwalker doll), so you can bet there was research to prove there's a market for sexy toys.

In fact, I have no doubt that the Bratz line will continue in a fashion, with Mattel holding the bag of money at the check out line in the toy store. (Can't you just wait for the new "Snotz" line of dolls? Pull a string and they talk back to adults!)

This lawsuit has been going on for a while and of course there are counter-suits and other legal scuffles associated with the case. With so much money at stake I imagine the case will not end with the yesterday's ruling.

But for now, at least, Mattel has done our culture a service by getting rid of Bratz. Legal fees well spent!