14 DAY TRIAL // A company that planned to sell an ultra-realistic Steve Jobs figurine has conceded to stop production, as well as pre-orders for the item, amid pressure from Apple’s lawyers and the Jobs family itself.
Tandy Cheung, of In Icons Productions, is a sworn Apple fan. He created the Steve Jobs doll years ago, and perfected it throughout time.
When he saw just how many people wanted one on their desk as well, he decided to market it with a planned release date sometime in February.
People were already pre-ordering the 12-inch doll, but Apple’s lawyers came down hard on Cheung. Apparently, so did the Jobs family.
“Unfortunately we have received immense pressure from the lawyers of Apple and Steve Jobs family,” Cheung wrote on the In Icons web site. “Regardless of the pressure, I am still Steve’s fan, I fully respect Steve, and his family, and it is definitely not my wish or intention that they be upset.”
Cheung and his colleagues still believe that they haven’t overstepped any legal boundaries, “[but] 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.”
“We understand that this decision will cause many of the fans' disappointment, but please forgive us as there is no other alternative unless to have the blessing from Steve Jobs family… We will aim to have full refund to the fans who have pre-ordered,” adds Cheung.
“Lastly, we wish to thank everyone for their admiration and appreciation of the figurine, and again we offer our sincere apologies to affected fans.”
While Apple’s legal department has never been too fond of Steve Jobs action figures, this doll's extreme likeness to the Apple co-founder might have caused its demise.