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Apple to sue Chinese manufacturer for Steve Jobs action figure
Legal action was all but certain given an incident last year in which Apple successfully blocked the Chinese company MiC Gadget from producing a doll with Jobs’ likeness.
A creepily realistic action figure of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs may not be making its way to U.S. shores after all.
The doll made a stir when news of its development emerged earlier this week. Commenters noted its uncanny resemblance to Jobs, who died Oct. 5.
Legal action was all but certain given an incident last year in which Apple successfully blocked the Chinese company MiC Gadget from producing a doll with Jobs’ likeness.
Under California law a person’s name, likeness, voice and signature can’t be used without permission until 70 years after that person’s death.
Apparently the Chinese makers of the Jobs doll, which was to go on sale in February for $100, “are reportedly being ‘threatened with legal action.’” The story doesn’t mention who reported that, though, and there’s no comment from Apple.
The action figure comes with a pair of black socks, some glasses, a leather belt, two apples (one with a bite taken out of it), a bar stool and a "One More Thing" backdrop.
