Schweinsteiger take legal action after toymaker releases Nazi soldiers resembling him

[libby 1957dog]

not sure if this is of interest to many on here but it highlights the "looke likee "nature of some of these figures and sculpts were seeing lately

German Manchester United star Bastian Schweinsteiger takes legal action after toymaker releases Nazi soldiers resembling him... named Bastian

Manchester United footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger has launched legal proceedings against a toymaker marketing Second World War Nazi soldier dolls named after him and looking like him.

The 'Bastian' range of toy soldiers has a figure looking like the 31-year-old German midfielder - dressed as a Wehrmacht veteran complete with swastika-bearing eagle on his uniform.

Marketing photographs of the Bastian figure show him posing in his uniform, decorated with the Nazi eagle.







Others show him accessorised and dressed for winter fighting operations, carrying canteens, a backpack and other items.

In one image, he wears the medal ribbon given to soldiers who took part in the first winter offensive in Russia in 1941.

The Chinese company marketing 'Bastian', named DiD and based in Hong Kong, described his appearance to the football superstar as 'purely coincidental'.

It added: 'The figure is a member of a Wehrmacht supply unit, a so-called "kitchen boy".'

A Dutch firm was contracted to begin selling the figures in Europe for £65 each but that looks doubtful now lawyers for Schweinsteiger are involved.

Records show that Japanese businessman Takuya Umezawa is the director of the firm which also produces James Bond dolls and First World War soldier figures.

German newspaper Bild spoke with DiD representative Patrick Chan in Hong Kong, who told the newspaper: 'We offer no figures based on the footballer. The resemblance is purely coincidental.'

He added: 'The figure is based on a typical German. We believe most Germans look like this. Bastian is a common name in Germany.'

[IMG]

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Media lawyer Ulrich Amelung said it was a clear violation of the rights of Schweinsteiger, and the portrayal of him wearing a swastika uniform was a 'clear case of defamation and insult'.

A spokesperson for Schweinsteiger's management team confirmed to MailOnline it had taken legal action regarding the dolls, adding they were doing 'everything in our power' to prevent their sale.

MailOnline has requested comment from DiD.

The DiD company website states it is based in Hong Kong, with its own factories operating in south China. It was established in 2003.

Although it produces its own figurines, it claims to also manufacture products for other companies, including Hasbro and Bandai.

The company's website stated: 'DID produce over 50 different items a year that no one in the industry can match.

'Thus, realistic, lifelike and accuracy are what you can find in all the DID products such as the widely accepted WWII series action figures.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...s-Nazi-soldiers-resembling-named-Bastian.html

I know I shouldn't laugh but I hope he shows up in Toy Story 4 My favourite bit is:

The figure is based on a typical German. We believe most Germans look like this.

[Earth 2 Chris]

These "under the table" likenesses were bound to come under legal fire sooner or later. You can't blame the guy for wanting this stopped.

Chris

[enyawd72]

I know I shouldn't laugh but I hope he shows up in Toy Story 4 My favourite bit is:

The figure is based on a typical German. We believe most Germans look like this.

That is pretty funny...China's finally getting even for years of "they all look alike" jokes.

[libby 1957dog]

lol thats exactly how i read it

[Bruce Banner]

[LordMudd]

I read elsewhere about a study done on that where it doesn't matter what race you are, you will always have more difficulty with other races. That alone will make it difficult for him to win. Also, the hair part is on the opposite side.

CCC.

[Gorn Captain]

I do see the irony and humor in it, but I wonder if we'd all find it just as funny if we saw a figure of ourselves, bearing our own name, in let's say "the outfit that Lee Harvey Oswald wore".

My country and my family lived through WWII and German occupation, so it's a little less "funny".
I do think it's important that history isn't forgotten, that uniforms like this are still portrayed, but I wouldn't want to see myself in one, especially with the swastika. Schweinsteiger's feelings about this actually say about this man that he knows about history and doesn't want to be associated with what the swastika stood for.

I do think the "they all look alike" defence is brilliant...

[alex]

This has been in the Uk newspapers, I must admit Ive always said he looks like your sterotypical kraut, even before this came out.

[LordMudd]

I suppose they could have made the hair a different color. I also saw an article that said the swastika was actually a good symbol for a very long time before the Nazis got hold of it. Their brief perversion of it undid hundreds of years of good.


CCC.

[Gorn Captain]

I suppose they could have made the hair a different color. I also saw an article that said the swastika was actually a good symbol for a very long time before the Nazis got hold of it. Their brief perversion of it undid hundreds of years of good.


CCC.

The "swastika", as the Nazis called it, is a Buddhist symbol, but the Nazis had the "wheel" turning in the opposite direction. Like a cross hanging upside down. The direct opposite of the benevolent Buddhist sign.

[LordMudd]

The "swastika", as the Nazis called it, is a Buddhist symbol, but the Nazis had the "wheel" turning in the opposite direction. Like a cross hanging upside down. The direct opposite of the benevolent Buddhist sign.

Problem is I never knew that about it until I saw the article and it never mentioned that they reversed it. So how many people are going to know the difference or just assume and not pay attention to detail?


CCC

[Gorn Captain]

Problem is I never knew that about it until I saw the article and it never mentioned that they reversed it. So how many people are going to know the difference or just assume and not pay attention to detail?


CCC

I agree. It needs pointing out, especially since Buddha figures often have that symbol (spinning correctly) on them.
Most people just know the swatika, and get confused by its original (benevolent) use. They just see a Buddha with a swastika!

[Bruce Banner]

It was used for thousands of years by many cultures across the globe (both normal and reversed) as a positive cultural and religious symbol and a sigil of good luck before the Nazis adopted it.

[Joe90]

It was used for thousands of years by many cultures across the globe (both normal and reversed) as a positive cultural and religious symbol and a sigil of good luck before the Nazis adopted it.

+1

BBC: How The World Loved The Swastika Before Hitler Stole It

[ODBJBG]

The problem here is this isn't a case of "It sort of looks like him", as much as it's a fact that DiD made it intentionally to look like him. Hell, it's one of their better likenesses, all things considered. It very clearly has his nose and ears. They're just lucky they slightly altered the hair.

I dunno if this will ever come to fruition, but he might block some sales. DiD and others, do these sort of likenesses all the time. Sometimes to clearly make an unlicensed character and other times, like this, to sort of randomly have a model for a figure. Sometimes it's a happy coincidence that they can get a few extra buys because someone happens to want a head sculpt of whatever C-list celeb they pattern after.