Arnold KO's Bobblehead

Mon., Aug. 2, 2004 3:55 PM PDT by Joal Ryan

Arnold Schwarzenegger has disarmed his bobblehead.

The toy-sized, ammo-equipped, AK-47-toting replica of the action governor of California will be discontinued by an Ohio-based manufacturer, following a settlement of a lawsuit filed by Schwarzenegger's camp.

The settlement between Schwarzenegger's two companies, Oak Productions and Fitness Publications, and Ohio Discount Merchandise was announced Monday.

Per the deal, Ohio Discount Merchandise's Bosley Bobbers division will be allowed to issue a new, gun-free Schwarzenegger doll.

A "substantial" portion of the proceeds from all Arnold bobblehead sales (both armed and unarmed versions) will be donated to the Schwarzenegger charity Arnold's All-Stars and to the charity of choice for Bosley Bobbers' namesakes, Todd and Toby Bosley.

There was no word on when the new Schwarzenegger bobblehead would be available. A message left with Bosley Bobbers was not returned.

Currently, there are no bobbleheads in the likeness of the Terminator star turned "girlie men"-baiting statesman available through the Bosley Bobbers Website. (There are, however, "Democrats Are Girlie Men" T-shirts available through other online retailers.)

Bosley Bobbers, which also produces lunch boxes, George W. Bush "big head" banks and pewter PEZ dispensers, specializes in cutting down world leaders to exactly eight inches in height.

Among the greats immortalized as bobbleheads: Abraham Lincoln, Jackie Kennedy (in her Dallas 1963 pink skirt suit), Sammy Davis Jr. and Jesus. Each goes for $14.95 a pop.

The Schwarzenegger bobblehead, issued shortly after his ascension to California's governorship, was the latest in the line of Bosley's politico-minded toys. But Team Schwarzenegger cried copyright infringement and argued his name and likeness were unlawfully usurped by the toy.

A lawsuit was filed in April, prompting concern from First Amendment advocates who argued that Bosley Bobbers was within its rights to spoof a public figure, as it had with President Bush, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry and Senator Hillary Clinton, among others.

The settlement appears to give both sides what they wanted: Bosley Bobbers gets to make its Arnold dolls; Schwarzenegger gets to have his Arnold doll look a little more like a standard bearer of the Republican party.

If you still covet the sight of Schwarzenegger packing heat, you need go no further than eBay, where Terminator 3 bobbleheads, featuring Schwarzenegger's robot self poised with a bazooka, can still be had.

In the Austrian Oak's native Austria, meanwhile, residents are snapping up a commemorative stamp baring the likeness of the Pumping Iron icon, noted simply as "Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger."

The stamps were issued on Friday, Schwarzenegger's 57th birthday. They don't bobble, or bare arms.