Steve Jobs tribute doll scrapped

Chinese manufacturer issues statement saying it will not ship $110 figurine after "pressure from the Jobs family and Apple lawyers"

The company behind the spookily accurate Steve Jobs doll has canned it after pressure from Apple.

Chinese firm In Icons was scheduling the 12in-tall figurine for sale next month, dressed in Jobs’ trademark jeans, black polo neck and rimless glasses. But the plans were opposed by Apple from the outset.

It was set to be priced at around $109.99 (£71.50) and came with two Apple logos. The doll was intended as a tribute to the Apple founder, who passed away in October after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.

But at the weekend, the company’s boss Tandy Cheung posted a statement on its website apologising to fans, but revealing that it would no longer be shipping the doll.

“Four years ago I created a single figurine of Steve which I placed on my desk next to my Mac,” the statement said. “I decided to share this with the rest of his fans as a commemoration... unfortunately we have received immense pressure from the lawyers of Apple and Steve Jobs’ family.

"...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," he said.

He added that he was sorry for the disappointment this was bound to cause fans, but said the company would provide a full refund to all who had pre-ordered the doll.