The Chinese business that designed a lifelike figurine of late entrepreneur Steve Jobs has pulled the product before it even hit the market, after “immense pressure” from Jobs’ family and Apple’s lawyers.
InIcons‘ Tandy Cheung has released a statement about the 12-inch doll he designed as a tribute to Jobs, who passed away in October last year. It came with a number of accessories, including an apple, a pair of glasses and a pair of Jobs’ trademark denim jeans.
The statement said Jobs’ passing left the figurine maker with “emptiness, sadness and a feeling of great personal loss,” and he wanted to share the memento he’d created for himself with the rest of Jobs’ fans “as a commemoration.”
Cheung said despite not providing any Mac, iPhone and iPod models or Apple related brands as accessories for the figurine, he’s been under pressure from Apple’s legal team and 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. 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,”
The company has apologised to fans who’d pre-ordered the figurine for US$99, and said it aims to deliver a full refund.
What do you think about the doll? Do you understand why Apple’s lawyers and Jobs’ family were upset about it?
