Apple to sue AGAIN...
Is it the 1st April already?
Apple is reportedly going to sue Chinese company In Icons for producing a Steve Jobs action figure, complete with trademark black turtleneck and blue jeans.
The 12-inch figurine was set to be released in February and carry a retail price of $99 plus shipping, but Apple claims that it owns the rights to the late co-founder's personality - or at least his appearance.
The Telegraph reports that Apple "stipulates in a letter to the Chinese manufacturer that any toy that resembles the technology company's logo, person's name, appearance or likeness of its products is a criminal offence."
An eBay account is already selling the dolls for $135, although delivery time is quoted as "14-23 business days" suggesting that the selling doesn't yet have the dolls in stock, and they may never if Apple gets its way.
The action figure comes with black socks, Jobs' trademark glasses, a leather belt, two miniature apples (one with a bite taken out of it), a bar stool to sit on and a backdrop which reads "One More Thing".
Also included is a spare set of hands which can be used to make the doll replicate some of Jobs' famous poses.
MacRumors points out that "Personality rights in the United States are addressed on a state-by-state basis, with California's laws covering unauthorized usage of a person's likeness, voice, or signature throughout their lifetime and for a period of 70 years following their death."
Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/2012/01/05/apple-to-sue-chinese-company-over-steve-jobs-action-figure/#ixzz1ifhdyt8s
All Comments (20)
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Edited By: MinstrelMan on Jan 06, 2012 10:19
Inb4 order enquiries are made.
Inb4 order enquiries are made.
Already done. I'm hoping it will come in blow up variety myself.
Inb4 order enquiries are made.
Already done. I'm hoping it will come in blow up variety myself.
Let's get this straight.... You want to **** a blow up doll of a dead person?
I had you down as a taker tbh.
Link
A Disney Pixar Production?
BFN,
fp.
Inb4 order enquiries are made.
Well apparently black roll-neck sweaters sold out so I'm sure the action figures will be a big seller. Not sure Apple will win the case - anyone else remember Franklin mint and Diana dolls....
Following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund was granted intellectual property rights over her image.[2] In 1998, after refusing the Franklin Mint an official license to produce Diana merchandise, the fund sued the company, accusing it of illegally selling Diana dolls, plates and jewellery.[3] In California, where the initial case was tried, a suit to preserve the right of publicity may be filed on behalf of a dead person, but only if that person is a Californian. The Memorial Fund therefore filed the lawsuit on behalf of the estate, and upon losing the case were counter sued by Franklin Mint in 2003. In November 2004, the case was settled out of court with the Diana Memorial Fund agreeing to pay £13.5 million (US $21.5 million) to charitable causes on which both sides agreed. In addition to this, the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund had spent a total of close to £4 million (US $6.5 million) in costs and fees relating to this litigation, and as a result froze grants allocated to a number of charities.[
What it makes clear is that anyone who moans about their business practices is a complete moron.
[ http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2010/11/see-steeve-jobs-new-action-figure.html ]
Does it vibrate? (just in case MC wanted to know!)
...thanks to their own Marketing & Press Relations departments.