Steve Jobs doll canceled after 'immense pressure'
Maker of the 12-inch action figure says he doesn't believe he violated any laws, but killed the project out of respect to Jobs' family.
The maker of a controversial Steve Jobs doll is ceasing production and sales of the 12-inch figure in response to "immense pressure" from Apple and Jobs' family.
"Though we still believe that we have not overstepped any legal boundaries, we have decided to completely stop the offer, production and sale of the Steve Jobs figurine out of our heartfelt sensitivity to the feelings of the Jobs family," Tandy Cheung, head of the Hong Kong-based In Icons, said in a statement yesterday announcing the decision. "Regardless of the pressure, I am still Steve's fan, I fully respect Steve, and his family, and it is definitely not my wish or intention that they be upset."
Cheung attracted a lot of attention earlier this month when his company announced it would produce a doll that closely resembled Jobs, complete with his well-known wardrobe of a black turtleneck and jeans and frameless glasses. Among the other things included in the kit that went on pre-sale this month were a holdable apple and a chair that could be used to pose the figure, as well as a backdrop sporting the familiar "one more thing" catchphrase synonymous with Apple product launches.
Apple reportedly sent In Icons a cease-and-desist note, claiming the company is breaking the law by creating a product that "resembles the technology company's logo, person's name, appearance, or likeness of its products."
After defiantly telling ABC News that "Apple can do anything they like. I will not stop, we already started production," Cheung ultimately relented.
In Icons' effort met the same fate as a previous Jobs action figure, which was briefly sold by China's MIC Gadget in 2010 until legal actions forced the company to stop selling the doll. MIC Gadget later followed up with a rejiggered version that had Jobs dressed up as a ninja. Apple also took offense with that iteration.