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Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

Bratz maker files suit versus Barbie

NORTH HILLS - MGA Entertainment Inc.'s long-running feud with rival El Segundo-based Mattel Inc. is continuing in court, as the Bratz doll maker sued the Barbie purveyor late Wednesday. The suit, filed in federal court in Los Angeles, contends that the toy industry's largest company engages in unfair competition and infringes against MGA's intellectual property.

MGA alleges that Mattel's My Scene Barbie dolls' eyelashes are too similar to those of its Bratz, that their packages are too close and that Mattel attempted to corner the doll hair market, muscling out its smaller competitors.

```Barbie' does not 'play nice' with others (particularly her competitors), and needs to be taught how 'to share' (at least in the fashion doll marketplace),'' the suit claims. ``She cannot be allowed to continue to be the playground bully and trample on the rights of others, including MGA.''

Blue Cross plans dental program

THOUSAND OAKS - Blue Cross of California will offer a statewide discount dental program, as the insurer announced the creation of SmileNetSM on Thursday. Unlike traditional insurance, the program requires annual dues of $80 for an individual and $120 for a family and offers unlimited services with costs reduced 15 percent to 20 percent. Employers can also offer the plan for $7 for individuals and $10 for families.

Paramount names new co-president

HOLLYWOOD - Paramount Pictures chief Brad Grey announced on Thursday the promotion of Alli Shearmur to co-president of production for the Hollywood studio.

Shearmur, formerly an executive vice president of production at Paramount, will oversee the day-to-day development and production of the studio's annual slate of films and literary acquisitions.

Warner, Combs make music deal

Sean ``P. Diddy'' Combs and Warner Music Group inked a joint venture deal that gives the record company a 50 percent stake in the hip-hop mogul's Bad Boy Records label.

Under the deal announced Thursday, Warner will market and handle digital and physical distribution of Bad Boy's new and catalog releases worldwide.

The label's roster of current and former artists includes Mase, Boyz N Da Hood, Notorious B.I.G. and P. Diddy himself.

Auto workers nix reopening pact

DEARBORN, Mich. - United Auto Workers officials indicated Thursday that they'd be unwilling to reopen the union's 2-year-old labor contract with General Motors Corp. to negotiate lower health care costs. Already-battered shares of the world's largest automaker tumbled to lows not seen in more than a decade.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said after an annual meeting between GM and the union that the automaker hasn't asked the union to reopen the contract. He said the UAW believes it can work with GM, which recently slashed its earnings forecasts, to lower costs within the current contract.

Quarter earnings soar at Southwest

DALLAS - With fuel hedges and Easter in March providing a tail wind, Southwest Airlines Co. nearly tripled its first-quarter earnings - making it one of the few profitable U.S. carriers despite intense competition and high oil prices.

Southwest said Thursday that it earned $76 million, or 9 cents a share, in the January-March period, up from $26 million, or 3 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 12 percent, to $1.66 billion.

The results topped the expectations of analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call, which had predicted that Southwest would earn 5 cents a share.