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| A row of bobblehead dolls featuring the name
and likeness of Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wearing a business
suit and holding a gun are pictured in an office at Ohio Discount
Merchandise in this April 30, 2004, file photo in Canton,
Ohio. (Reuters) | Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger has settled a
lawsuit against an Ohio firm that produces bobblehead dolls in his image.
The former Hollywood actor, who is fiercely protective of his
image on the stump and on the
screen, sued Ohio Discount Merchandise Inc. in April to halt production of
the plastic dolls that featured a gun-toting Schwarzenegger in a business
suit.
Under the new agreement, Ohio Discount can produce
Schwarzenegger-the-politician dolls - without the gun. The $19.99 dolls
will be available online, a statement from the company said.
Ohio Discount also agreed to donate a portion of sales to
Schwarzenegger's nonprofit Arnold All-Stars after-school program in Los
Angeles.
"We're very happy with the settlement, and we look forward to the
release of the new Arnold Schwarzenegger bobblehead doll," said Todd
Bosley, co-owner of Ohio Discount.
Schwarzenegger's lawyer Martin Singer said the governor was glad to see
an end to the unauthorized uses of his image. "And he's happy to see the
money going to his charity," Singer said.
The original Schwarzenegger bobblehead was part of a deal that included
several Democratic presidential candidates, organized by Washington, D.C.,
lobbyist John Edgell, to raise money for two cancer and children's
charities.
Bosley said he severed ties with Edgell when the former congressional
staffer sought offers for a "Groping Arnold" bobblehead, after accusations
surfaced that Schwarzenegger had groped several women during his years in
Hollywood.
Edgell, who was also named in Schwarzenegger's suit, said he opposes
the settlement and plans to seek an injunction.
(Agencies)
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Updated: 2004-08-04 11:18