A federal judge has denied MGA Entertainment Inc.’s request to allow retailers to continue selling Bratz dolls after the end of this year’s holiday season.

Monday’s ruling means that the Van Nuys toymaker will have to pull its dolls off the shelves in January, as had been previously ordered, unless an appeal is successful.

MGA had asked judge David Carter to remove the requirement, which was part of Mattel Inc.’s legal victory in the battle over ownership of the Bratz dolls. Mattel won control of the Bratz line last year, when a federal jury decided that a former Mattel doll designer created the Bratz name and character for MGA while still working at the El Segundo toy company. As a result of the litigation, Mattel was awarded the Bratz line and an additional $100 million in damages.

Mattel also won an injunction from the court requiring MGA to stop selling the Bratz dolls at the end of the 2009 holiday season, and then give Mattel the Bratz intellectual property it needs to prepare its own Bratz line for the Spring 2010 sales season.

However, MGA filed a motion earlier this month arguing that retailers should be allowed to sell the remaining Bratz dolls after the end of this year’s holiday season because there would be a limited quantity remaining in the marketplace and because Mattel won’t be able to sell the Bratz products until April 2010.

A spokeswoman for Mattel said the company had no comment.

An MGA spokeswoman said the company was waiting for an appellate hearing in December, where the company is challenging the order to the remove the toys as well as Mattel’s claim of ownership and damages.

Oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals are scheduled for Dec. 9 in Pasadena.