A summary of Southern California-related business litigation developments during the past week.

Barbie Deal Prompts Suit: Mattel Inc. of Hawthorne filed a suit in Los Angeles Superior Court Thursday over licensing rights to the name “Barbie” on children’s party goods. The lawsuit names Unique Industries Inc. of Philadelphia, which had the license to make and sell the merchandise through June 30, 1990. Mattel contends that, a week before the agreement expired, it notified Unique that it would not renew it. Unique, however, contends that the agreement was actually renewed. The suit seeks damages and a court order barring Unique from marketing or selling Barbie children’s party goods. (Filed July 19, 1990. Case No. BC006129)