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Schwarzenegger Mounts Bobble-Headed Lawsuit

Forget the Terminator. Now Ah-nold is the litigator. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's film production company has filed a lawsuit again tiny Ohio Discount Merchandise, claiming that its $19.95 Schwarzenegger bobble-head doll exploits his image for commercial purposes. The suit says Ahnold is an instantly recognizable celebrity whose likeness and name are worth millions and are solely his. He did not make it clear which part of the words satire or parody he did not understand.

Todd Bosley, president of the company, says the governor should lighten up. And I 100% agree that the governator is waay too full of himself: long on form, short on substance.

The company has long sold bobbleheads of public figures and celebrities. Its two biggest sellers are likenesses of Anna Nicole Smith and Jesus Christ, according to the Times.

As the business intelligence blog, Corante, points out, "One of the wonderful things about democracy is that we are able to ridicule and belittle our politicians. When politicians wield so much power it is a good thing to keep their egos somewhat in check with humorous renditions of their features. I see little reason why a 3D spring-mounted bust should receive less First Amendment protection than a political cartoon."

Hey, my dog Sam and I are both bobble-heads and proud of it!

Categories: Leaders, Marketing Strategy, New Products, News, Worst Practices

BL Ochman | May 18 04 8:04 | TrackBack (0)

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According to an article I read about this case, the bobblehead company being sued has been donating $5 of every Arnold bobblehead sale to the Sarcoma Foundation of America...

...which aids research treatment therapies for the childhood cancer that took the leg of Ted Kennedy Jr., the cousin of Schwarzenegger's wife, Maria Shriver.

So lots of twists and turns to this case and it will be interesting to see what happens. :)

Posted by: Steve Gill at May 19, 2004 11:29 AM

All the more reason for Ah-nold to lighten up and stop terrorizing a small company trying to make a living.

The company has done bobble-heads of all sorts of politicians, and none has carried on about lawsuits.

Posted by: B.L. Ochman at May 19, 2004 12:04 PM

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About BL Ochman

Blogger, social media strategy consultant to Fortune 500 companies, and sought-after corporate speaker B.L. Ochman heads the creative team of whatsnextonline.com. She also publishes the Ethics Crisis blog for SRF Global Translations

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