Remember the incredibly realistic (and incredibly unofficial) Steve Jobs action figure that was supposed to become available in February? The one that Apple tried to ban by making legal threats?
That action figure has officially been canceled by its maker.
According to PC World, Tandy Cheung — the Hong Kong businessman behind In Icons, the company which created the toy in question — announced that he was letting go of this particular project by his own volition:
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.
Cheung goes on to explain that his company has received "immense pressure" from both lawyers representing Apple as well as Steve Jobs' family. According to him, the action figure was intended to be "a tribute" to Jobs, and "honored the copyrights and trademarks of Apple."
As we've mentioned before, Apple's legal objections should not have come as a surprise — despite Cheung's assertions that the action figure is legally untouchable.
In late 2010, a similar series of events played out when somewhat less realistic Steve Jobs action figures were sold through and by a website called M.I.C. Gadget. A law firm representing Apple quickly put an end to things when it requested that the company cease marketing and selling the action figure.
Apple's lawyers claimed back then — just as they did this time around — that the whole "wrangle is over the likeness of the doll to the late Apple founder, the rights of which the company claims it owns," as the Telegraph's Amy Willis explains.
And in a further case of history repeating itself, a handful of In Icon's recently out-of-production action figures have made their way onto eBay — with price tags as high as $2,500 — just as the M.I.C. Gadget versions did after their demise.
Related stories:
- Remember when Steve Jobs prank-called Starbucks?
- Apple tries to ban realistic Steve Jobs action figure
- Unofficial Steve Jobs action figure is so realistic it's creepy
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