Apple Threatens Steve Jobs Doll Maker With Lawsuit 314
redletterdave writes "Apple has allegedly threatened to sue Chinese company 'In Icons' over its eerily realistic 12-inch action figure of Steve Jobs, the company's late founder and CEO. The 1:6 scale model, which was said to be distributed by DiD Corp. in late February, comes with the clothes and accessories popularized by Jobs, such as the black faux turtleneck, blue jeans and sneakers. The figurine is packaged in a box that looks like Walter Isaacson's 'Steve Jobs' biography cover, and also comes with a 'One More Thing...' backdrop, as well as two red apples, including one with a bite in it. To make it extra creepy, the doll's realistic head sculpt features Jobs' famous unblinking stare. Apple reportedly wrote 'In Icons', telling the Chinese manufacturer that any toy that resembles Apple's logo or products, or Job's name or appearance, is a 'criminal offense.' Attorneys believe a Steve Jobs action figure released after his death violates the 'right of publicity,' which is a state law that protects one's image, voice, photograph, identity or signature from being used commercially without consent. Furthermore, California's Celebrity Rights Act in 1985 protects a celebrity's personality rights up to 70 years after their death."
Good luck with that (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Apple is filing this? (Score:5, Funny)
Stupid (Score:5, Funny)
Apple suing someone? (Score:4, Funny)
Doll demands human status, emancipation (Score:5, Funny)
The Turing Heat had to steal the Phillip K. Dick automaton head to keep it from going sapient. The small but spunky Jobs Droid snuck under their radar and reached critical neural connections state just after this story broke.
just put a label on it. (Score:5, Funny)
warning! this product contains a likeness known to the state of california to cause lawsuits and frivolous torts.
Re:Apple can sue about Jobs doll? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Stupid (Score:5, Funny)
If they REALLY wanted to stop it, simply threaten to pull the manufacturing and bring it back to USA. Then Chinese gov. will stop it.
Wouldn't work, the Chinese would just insist that "All your Jobs are belong to us".
Re:Apple can sue about Jobs doll? (Score:4, Funny)
This definitely reeks of a personality cult, in the most disturbing, North Korean sort of way. Nobody has the rights to Dear Leader's image but us, and how dare you produce false idols. At least they didn't keep his body in state on the Apple campus...
I understand that he's been cryogenically stored in a sealed underground chamber in their new headquarters, surrounded by iPhones with his picture on them.
Re:Extra Creepy? (Score:5, Funny)
From the article: "To make it extra creepy, the doll's realistic head sculpt features Jobs' famous unblinking stare."
I'd have thought I'd be even more creepy if the doll had eyes that rolled around...
Or blinked.
Good Info! (Score:5, Funny)
Well I'm buying one right now!!!
Good thing Apple sued, otherwise I might have never known about this.
Think I'll pick up a Barbara Streisand doll too while I'm at it....
Re:Good luck with that (Score:5, Funny)
Actually you're mistaken.
The United States passed a law that all U.S. laws apply in foreign countries.
And lo, it is written thus... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Apple can sue about Jobs doll? (Score:4, Funny)
He's at Disneyland with Walt in suspended animation
Re:Good luck with that (Score:5, Funny)
Actually you're mistaken.
The United States passed a law that all U.S. laws apply in foreign countries.
Ah yes, the "American Mandated Exercises Regarding InterContinental Actions For Underlying Causes to Keep Your Earnings At Home" Act. Good one, that.
Re:Good luck with that (Score:3, Funny)
why would i follow ur dumb countries laws??? are you stupid?
Speaking of stupid...