By the time the creators and producers of the original Bild Lilli doll, O&M Hausser, realized that Mattel had duped them into selling off their intellectual property and distribution rights for ridiculously low lump sums, Barbie had already made Mattel such a successful and influential market leader that law suits were struck down in favor of the ever-growing American toy giant. Unlike Barbie, Bild Lilli was produced for only eight years and never reached the importance of the American doll. Mattel had discreetly bought up all and any patents and copyrights to Bild Lilli, while Marx Toys held some of them after the demise of this toy competitor. I just copied this from Wekipedia: Even though their whole Barbie success was based on this German original, Mattel's legal department made sure that using the name Bild Lilli as a book title or product name would infringe copyright laws. I always learned that Ruth Handler - Barbie's mom - in 1957 visited Austria and bought a couple of Bild-Lilli dolls and because she has thought of making a similar doll Mattel bought the license from HAUSSER but I just learned that Mattel didn't get the license but Marx toys bought it and made Miss Seventeen. I wasn't going to write much about how Barbie was 'born' but I recently heard a story that contredikts the official story. I will not write much about Barbie and her history as there isn't a better described doll in the world I'm sure 😀 but of course I'll be willing to share my information so feel free to ask questions. This first album will show my vintage Barbie dolls.

Midge barbie doll