Steve Jobs Figurine Pulled After Threatened Trademark Suit

By: Aaron B. Thalwitzer

A Chinese company, MIC Gadget has stopped selling a Steve Jobs doll action figure after receiving a cease and desist letter from Apple’s lawyers stating that it violated Apple trademarks and copyrights.   The question is, why? The doll action figure is quite realistic, and doesn’t create any confusion, or cast Apple or Mr. Jobs in a bad light. Sure, the base is shaped like the Apple logo, but that’s a quick fix. And notice that SJ’s holding the iPhone 4 with the infamous Death Grip (which may or not be intentional on the maker’s part).

But, to my eyes, this presents an opportunity for Apple to do more than protect their perceived or actual intellectual property rights. MIC Gadget was on to something here and Apple could benefitted from it. Perhaps a tie-in to promote the forthcoming next-gen iPad? An all-proceeds-go-to-charity sale? A Geico Lizard-esque commercial featuring the SJ action figure? Or, as posted on Slashdot, could it be that Apple is concerned that their followers (myself included) are purchasing lead-painted false idols?

Or maybe Apple is policing its personality rights (which are proving to be a very dynamically changing landscape; a topic best saved for another day).

MIC eventually announced that Apple’s cease and desist letter stated, “Unauthorized use of a person’s name and/or likeness constitutes a violation of California Civil Code Section 3344, which prohibits the use of any person’s name, photograph or likeness in a product without that person’s prior consent . . .” A little research verified that Section 3344 protects the publicity rights of living persons. So, for better or worse, Apple probably has a point. But they’re still a total buzzkill.