Don’t Buy Bootleg Obama Dolls

Americans
need to come together and take a stand. It’s our duty to refuse to
allow the images of President Barack Obama’s daughters to be peddled
for profit. Ty Inc., the maker of the perennially popular Beanie Babies
as well as the two brown dolls now on the shelves of toy stores and
gift shops called “Marvelous Malia” and “Sweet Sasha,” is marketing the
dolls which resemble our 44th President’s pre-teen daughters, Malia and
Sasha. The eponymous dolls are a part of the TyGirlz collection, dolls
that resemble the often criticized, scantily clad Bratz dolls. The
dolls sell for $9.99 each.

An Obama spokeswoman, Katie McCormick Lelyveld, said the first family
felt it was “inappropriate to use young private citizens for marketing
purposes.”

While we admire the first children, they need their privacy and a
marketing ploy of this nature compromises their character. It is not a
coincidence that Ty Inc. would introduce their first black dolls during
the time preceding President Obama’s inauguration.

It is illegal to use unauthorized images of individuals for commercial
purposes. Anyone who says that the first family shouldn’t raise a fuss
has blinders on. While Ty Inc. denies the Obama girls inspired the
latest addition to the collection, an image infringement suit and
financial retribution are in order.

Below are several notable infringement suits:
January 2009 –
Tony Duquette, Inc. filed a suit against Michael Kors (USA), alleging
that Kors infringed on the late designer and artist’s proprietary name
and trademark by producing and marketing a Kors Resort Collection using
the name Duquette. 

July 2008 –
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson sued Taco Bell claiming that the fast-food
restaurant chain used his name without permission in ads suggesting
that he call himself 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent.

June 2008 –
Devo went to war with McDonald’s, claiming that a new Happy Meal toy
infringes on their copyrighted stage appearance. The fast-food chain
released a series of “American Idol” toys, which aim to celebrate
different genres and periods of American music.

October 2003 –
Basketball star Yao Ming reached a settlement with global beverage
company, Coca-Cola’s Chinese unit over a lawsuit concerning the rights
to his image. Coke halted the production and marketing of its
commemorative bottles bearing the image.