Steve Jobs action figure canceled due to 'immense pressure' from Apple

After receiving what it called "immense pressure" from Apple and the family of its late co-founder Steve Jobs, a company making 12-inch action figures of the tech icon announced it is canceling production of the item.

 

InIcons said that while it believes it did not overstep any legal boundary, it did not wish to see Jobs' family upset.

 

"Unfortunately we have received immense pressure from the lawyers of Apple and Steve Jobs' family. 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," it said in an announcement on its website (www.inicons.com).

 

"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," it added.

 

It also apologized to fans affected by the decision.

 

A report on tech site CNET attributed the statement to Tandy Cheung.

 

InIcons attracted much attention some weeks back when it announced it would produce a figurine that closely resembled Jobs, complete with a black turtleneck and jeans and frameless glasses.

 

The figure came with a holdable apple and a chair that could be used to pose the figure, as well as a backdrop sporting the familiar "one more thing" catchphrase.

 

CNET said Apple reportedly sent In Icons a cease-and-desist note, claiming the company is breaking the law by creating a product that "resembles the technology company's logo, person's name, appearance, or likeness of its products."

 

It added In Icons' effort shared the fate of a previous Jobs action figure, which was briefly sold by China's MIC Gadget in 2010 until legal actions forced the company to stop selling the doll.

 

MIC Gadget later followed up with a rejiggered version that had Jobs dressed up as a ninja, CNET reported. — TJD, GMA News