It’s a move that hardly comes as a surprise, but Chinese manufacturer InIcon’s Steve Jobs doll has been nixed.
InIcons revealed the 12-inch replica of Apple’s visionary leader earlier this month and began taking pre-orders for when the doll begins shipping in February.
Of note is the fact that IcIcons is based in China, which is infamous for its relentless rip-offs and piracy, where Apple has little legal grounds for action.
However, Apple contacted the company and threatened a lawsuit, especially if there is any intention to sell the figure in the US.
At the time, company head Tandy Cheung was quoted as saying Apple’s threats were baseless, noting, “Steve Jobs is not an actor, he’s just a celebrity… There is no copyright protection for a normal person. Steve Jobs is not a product… so I don’t think Apple has the copyright of him.”
Nevertheless, apparently after thinking it through, the company will not bring the eerily realistic action figure to the US market.
“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,” said Cheung.