Sasha and Malia Dolls Irk First Lady

Source: ABC News

Washington has quieted down. The president is hard at work. The Obama girls are back in school. The Jonas Brothers have left the White House.

But as the first family settles into its first weekend in their new home, an interruption in Sasha and Malia's privacy has already given them a taste of the new normal.

This week Michelle Obama's spokeswoman, Katie McCormick Lelyveld, explained how the first lady feels about new dolls on the market that share her daughters' names.

"We believe it is inappropriate to use young private citizens for marketing purposes," Lelyveld said in a statement.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/President44/story?id=6716085&page=1

Shouldn't have such cute kids! The temptation must be too great.

guess I see both sides of it.

...she has done a heroic job of keepiung the kids "normal" despite the changes in their lives. And, if one hasn't noticed, they don't trot the girls out at a drop of a hat...like SOME people I know (*cough* Palin *cough*)

The dolls are in poor taste, and someone should have thought to ask permission to use the girls names or likenesses before they hit the market. If I am not mistaken, that is a valid legal question to be addresed. right or wrong, this could be a violation of privacy, especially since the girls are minors!

When I saw the thread on DU yesterday about the dolls, I refused to look at it, because I thought it was in such bad taste. I hope Michelle has their guts for garters, whoever did this!
GO MOMMA OBAMA!

These are children we are talking about. Maybe had they asked ahead of time to make approved dolls with all the profit going to an appropriate cause... But I honestly think it's just freaky to have other people holding dolls in your children's image. I hope they make them stop.

If you took those dolls and just showed them to someone. No Obama material in the background. No mention of names. Just the dolls. Do you honestly think anyone would look at them and say, that Sasha and Malia Obama? That's the wonderful thing about dolls. They can be anyone you want them to be.

and publish open letters to them in papers. Then try to claim they are not in the public eye. If they wanted to keep the kids lives private. Then they have to keep them out of sight and put letters to them in a mail box instead of news papers. The privacy claims are difficult for hollywood celebs that do keep their kids out of sight and refuse to even discuss them in interviews. You can't put them on a stage and claim privacy. You can't use them as a PR tool to melt hearts and claim privacy. That's where you get into the Palin area of wanting to have your cake and eat it too. The Obama's are either going to have to keep them out of sight to preserve their privacy or they will have to manage their PR. At this point I can't see where the Obama's would have a reasonable right to expect privacy for their currently high profile daughters. The fact that they are as adorable as the day is long isn't gonna help keep them out of the public eye either. But I do understand Momma bears instincts. Protecting the girls privacy is something Michelle and Barack are going to have to do. Not the toy company. They are gonna be a toy company and not parents.

Good lord is this country so fucked up that people have to be informed of the difference.

PLueeeeze, there is a big difference betwen palin trotting out her DISABLED baby at EVERY event, and the Obama kids being present at various state functions. The stuff that is photographed with the family at the state fair, etc, is NOT a photo op, it is them living LIFE with their kids, which a public figure has to deal with to a certain extent.


Regardles of the kids' likeness or not to the dolls, there IS a diference between public office and toy markets!

I like the idea of asking Michelle for permission, and seeing profits go to a charity, etc
BUT this is blatant "trying to make a buck"

too bad our country HAS been so fucked up that it can't tell the difference...but hey, we were told to 'go shopping' after 9-11...

:nuts:

I have a friend from Russia that is named Sasha. I called her. Michelle didn't call her or her mother to ask for permission to give her daughter my friends name. :eyes: The Obama's do not have exculsive rights to the names Sasha and Malia. It's really that simple.

...but if you come out with a pair of dolls called Bert and Ernie, and give them even passing resemblance to the TV duo, expect a phone call from lawyers representing Sesame Street.

At least not real ones. And their father didn't run for president of the United States and use their likenesses in campaign material and mention them in speeches and letter in Parade magazine, etc. Once a person enters the public arena things change.

Sasha is a pretty comon name. It's not like Michelle Obama has a trademark for it.

The dolls are marketed as likenesses of the actual persons, not generic girls who happen to have those names, so the Obamas may have a legal case.

More important for our purposes, however: I believe it's legal. The maker probably has the right to do this. And still they're assholes for doing it.

Seriously? If Obamas had a "disabled baby," would you disapprove of them brining that baby to functions? Politicians bring their babies and children to functions. I do not think these children are just "private citizens."

Good Lordy!

Doesn't mean they have to be locked in a windowless room for 4 years to be able to expect privacy. They come out for big things and you are going to see them now and then with their father or mother, but that is what should be expected. The girls shouldn't have to give up anything just because some have poor impulse control or a need to exploit famous people.

for any of them.

This is something that must have been in their mind from the beginning.

Michelle is right, and she needs to dig in her heels. That company is trying to make money off her daughers, and I hope she can put a stop to this right now.

Those Obama girls are so darn cute. Serious and responsible Malia, 'popcorn popping' Sasha. As adorable as they are, we need to give them their privacy and childhood. No one should make money off those kids.

It's not as if they signed up for a show on TLC called 'Barack & Michelle + 2'.

Those little girls have a great mom.

I can see both sides....this is only the beginning, President Obama's kids are going to be in the spotlight like it or not, they are the first family. On the other hand, the kids do need privacy and this should be respected.

But how does she feel about the Obama action figure, which comes with kung fu grip hands, a wardrobe of weapons, an American flag, and 2 ties?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/4324558/Barack-Obama-as-Action-Man-Japanese-toy-company-makes-US-President-dolls.html

he was looking really fly with the samurai sword and nunchuks. i have to have it!!!

Who recognizes EXPLOITATION when she sees it --

as we all should--!!

or some other adult. but not the girls.

That should make her feel a little better about it.

that does not give them the rights to their images.

Michelle speak out against this.

The dolls are part of Ty's teen dolls and have breasts. Malia and Sasha are 7 and 10. With all the sexualization of young girls this is offensive, and totally unnecessary.

The dolls are made in Chinese sweat shops. Hardly appropriate when the Obama children are the direct descendants of slaves. To say nothing about them not being USA union made.

Now Ty is saying the dolls are not based on Sasha and Malia Obama? Liars.

The company insists there's no connection to the Obama daughters. They just chose what they thought were "beautiful names."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/23/michelle-obama-thinks-sas_n_160277.html

"...the Obama children are the direct descendants of slaves."

can you back that up, exactly which of their relatives were slaves?

i think your statement is probably the most racist thing i have ever heard. why are the descendants from slaves, because their dad is (half) black?

and so therefore, are her children.

There are people in this world with brown skin whose ancestors were not enslaved in the United States.


And even if the Obama children were descended from American slaves (they're not) how would it make their exploitation or the exploitation of Chinese workers any more or less inappropriate?

So obviously so are her children. Look it up. Here's an article from the Seattle Times to get you started.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008466925_obamaslavery04.html

There is great irony, and a sadness that that exploited workers would make these dolls. Any child's toy to be sure, but these dolls in particular.

yes indeed

but I suppose it was inevitable. Nevertheless, I'm sure Mom and Dad will do a good job of keeping the kids grounded in spite of such predictable mercenary foolishness.

Yes, the company can probably legally use the Obama girl's names for their dolls but good God -- I think it's in poor taste.

At the very least I hope the dolls are made in the U.S.

for that itchy wool suit. :)

were there never any Barbara and Jenna dolls??

no one supporting Obama buys the dolls....

and you know the other side won't......

case resolved.

Seriously.

slander and libel cases, invasion of privacy, and using someone's name and/or image without consent. The third thing is what is involved here, not privacy or being thrust onto the public scene. I think releaseing two African American dolls around the Inaguration of Barack Obama, the larger of which is named Malia and the smaller of which is named Sasha, is a clear attempt to profit from the images and names of Malia and Sasha Obama. You could not sell an Elvis Presley doll or a Marilyn Monroe doll without the permission of the estate. The fact that the dolls do not look exactly like Malia and Sasha is irrelevant. Most dolls dont look exactly like a human being. It's clear who they are supposed to be and why the company made them at this time and hopes to profit from them.

For example, as to Elvis:

"CKX, Inc. is engaged in the ownership, development and commercial utilization of entertainment content. The Company’s primary assets and operations include the rights to the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley and the operations of Graceland, the rights to the name, image and likeness of Muhammad Ali and rights to the IDOLS television brand, including the American Idol series in the United States and local adaptations of the IDOLS television show format which, collectively with American Idol, air in over 100 countries around the world. The Company operates through four segments: Presley Business - Royalties and Licensing, Presley Business - Graceland Operations, 19 Entertainment and the Ali Business. On June 1, 2007, the Company acquired 50% of the newly issued common membership interests in FX Luxury Realty, LLC.


Presley Business-Royalties and Licensing


CKX owns co-publishing rights to approximately 650 music compositions, most of which were recorded by Elvis Presley. More than 46% of its publishing income from these compositions originates outside the United States. The Company also owns rights to receive royalties from sales of certain Elvis records. CKX owns the name, image and likeness of Elvis Presley, as well as trademarks in various names and images associated with Elvis. The Company also owns the rights to two of Elvis' television specials: 68 Special (1968) and Aloha From Hawaii (1973).


The Company is entitled to receive participation royalties in 24 of 31 feature films that Elvis starred as an actor. In addition to its own merchandising efforts, its licensing division is charged with the responsibility of protecting and preserving the integrity of Elvis Presley's image, Graceland and other related properties. The Company has over 100 licensing arrangements. Its licensed products and services (and the corresponding licensees) include greeting cards (American Greetings Corporation), slot machines (IGT), satellite radio (Sirius Satellite Radio, Inc.), limited edition wines (Signature Wines), collectible figures (McFarlane Toys), calendars and stationary (Mead Corporation), and coffee (Ugly Mug Coffee Company).


Presley Business-Graceland Operations


CKX operates Graceland, the 13.5-acre estate that served as the primary residence of Elvis Presley from 1957 until his passing in 1977, under the terms of a 90-year lease with The Promenade Trust, under which 87 years remain. The Company owns worldwide rights, title and interest in and to the name Graceland, which name may be used at additional themed locations, as well as in Memphis, Tennessee. Adjacent to the Graceland real property is the Meadow Oaks Apartments, a 270-unit apartment complex that CKX owns and operates as a result of its acquisition of the Presley Business. Adjacent to the mansion and related attractions, the Company has, since 1998, operated Elvis Presley's Heartbreak Hotel, which is marketed primarily to visitors to Graceland. Elvis Presley’s Heartbreak Hotel is a 128-room boutique hotel. The hotel had an average occupancy rate of approximately 82% during the year ended December 31, 2007.


CKX owns and operates the official Elvis Presley Website, www.elvis.com. The Website also offers downloads, such as e-cards, games and online tours, as well as direct access to shopelvis.com, the Company’s official online store selling Elvis-branded merchandise.


19 Entertainment


During the year ended December 31, 1998, 19 Entertainment created what was to become the concept for Pop Idol, a televised talent contest for musical artists that allowed the viewing audience to participate in and ultimately select the winning performer via text messaging and telephone voting. The audience participation generates a pre-established market for the winning artists and other finalists who 19 Entertainment then has the right to represent with respect to artist management and merchandising. In the United States and United Kingdom, 19 Entertainment also enters into recording agreements with the winning artists and other finalists. Pop Idol was first broadcast in the United Kingdom in 2001 and in the United States, under the name American Idol in 2002. American Idol and/or local adaptations of the IDOLS television show format collectively air in over 100 countries around the world.


Though 19 Entertainment is a party to a variety of commercial relationships with its television and record label production and distribution partners to produce, broadcast, distribute and finance shows based on the IDOLS brand, 19 Entertainment retains a substantial interest in all aspects of such shows and their multiple revenue streams through its wholly owned operating subsidiaries both in the United States and the United Kingdom. 19 Entertainment continues to represent its historical roster of clients, including Annie Lennox and Cathy Dennis.


19 Entertainment has developed a number of relationships, in which it retains an ownership position and which it expects to result in the creation of valuable properties and projects.19 Entertainment manages Victoria Beckham, a fashion and lifestyle personality, as well as David Beckham, a globally recognized soccer player. 19 Entertainment represents Mr. Beckham in all of his commercial activities, including advertising, sponsorship and endorsement activities. Beckham Brand Limited, together with the Anschutz Entertainment Group, developed and opened The David Beckham Academy in London. The soccer academies feature multiple soccer fields, classrooms, training rooms and other facilities.


Ali Business


The Ali Business consists of the commercial exploitation of the name, image, likeness and intellectual property of Muhammad Ali, primarily through endorsement and licensing arrangements. The primary revenue source comes from licensing Muhammad Ali’s name and likeness for consumer products, commercials and other uses. Licensing revenue is primarily derived from long-term contracts with terms of one to five years. The Ali Business also generates revenue from sports memorabilia signings performed by Mr. Ali.


Morra, Brezner, Steinberg & Tenenbaum Entertainment, Inc.


MBST is a full-service management company with a roster of more than 30 clients, representing an array of Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy winning artists, including Robin Williams, Billy Crystal and Woody Allen for more than 25 years each, jazz legend John Pizzarelli for 10 years, and comedian/writer Jeff Ross, comedian Jim Norton, director Bob Weide, each for more than three years. MBST has had an advisory relationship with Apple Corps., the holding corporation for the Beatles, for more than 15 years. MBST also has had a relationship with Alain Boublil, the author of Les Miserables, for more than 15 years. In addition to its management activities, MBST has been responsible for the production of motion pictures and television productions, including Arthur, Good Morning Vietnam, The Vanishing, The Greatest Game Ever Played and Match Point."

http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?rpc=66&symbol=CKXE.O