US judge to modify stay on MGA Bratz sales-MGA CEO

LOS ANGELES Dec 30 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge who barred MGA Entertainment Inc from selling or manufacturing its Bratz doll line will modify his order to allow the products to be sold through the end of 2009, an MGA attorney said on Tuesday.

At a hearing on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Stephen Larson "indicated he will be modifying his Dec. 3 stay ... to allow purchases and sales (of Bratz items)" beyond a previously set deadline of Feb. 11, MGA attorney Tom Nolan said.

MGA had asked Larson to postpone his order barring the company from selling products that infringe on Mattel Inc's MAT.N copyrights for Bratz until MGA can appeal the ruling to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mattel could not be reached immediately for comment. (Reporting by Gina Keating)