The maker of a controversial Steve Jobs action figure is stopping production and sale of the 12-inch doll following threats of legal action by Apple and Jobs' family, reports "PC World" (http://macte.ch/LFvKg).

"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," Tandy Cheung, the Hong Kong businessman whose company, In Icon, created the doll, said in a statement.

Toy companies, in icons and Dragon in Dream, unveiled the figure based on the late tech icon earlier this month. It featured a realistic likeness and Jobs's trademark black turtleneck, jeans and sand shoes. The figure was due for release in late February for $US99.99.

Soon after In Icon publicized its plans for the Jobs action figure, it began receiving letters from Apple's lawyers. "If Apple had been forced to take Cheung to court, it's not clear what the outcome would have been," notes "PC World." "One possible ending, though, is that distribution of the doll could be blocked in some jurisdictions and not in others."