The following is an excerpt from Lauren Effron | January 4, 2012 | abcnews.go.com |
One Hong Kong businessman was so enamored with Steve Jobs that he spent years developing the late Apple CEO’s likeness into an action figure.
Tandy Cheung and his firm, In icons, started featuring the 12-inch Steve Jobs doll on its website for $99.99, and is unfazed by Internet murmurs that Apple, Inc. or Jobs’ estate could take legal action to prevent the doll’s release.
“Apple can do anything they like,” Cheung said. “I will not stop, we already started production.”
Pre-orders for the action figure, which has an eerie similarity to Jobs, are being taken now. The company says it will be released in stores and online in late February.
“I love [Jobs] very much and I think there are a lot of people like me who want to have his action figure,” Cheung said.
While he said he was aware Apple had stopped other companies from making Steve Jobs dolls in the past, Cheung said he is “not sure” if his action figure will cause Apple to take legal action. But, Cheung said, he spoke with several lawyers in Hong Kong who told him he wasn’t in violation as long as he doesn’t include any Apple products with the figure.
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“Steve Jobs is not an actor, he’s just a celebrity… There is no copyright protection for a normal person,” Cheung said. “Steve Jobs is not a product… so I don’t think Apple has the copyright of him.”
No detail was spared in creating this G.I. Joe-eqse figure, which Cheung said is derived from a 2007 image of Jobs, when “he still looks very healthy.” The doll is dressed in Jobs’ signature black turtleneck and blue jeans, with a black leather belt, black socks and tiny New Balance sneakers.
“Everybody can only recognize Steve Jobs in that style,” Cheung said.
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