Bosley Bobble Heads and Townsend Attorneys Team to Protect Rights in Face of Gov. Schwarzenegger's Termination Threat.

News Editors/Business Editors/Legal Writers/Political Writers

CANTON, Ohio & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 2004

Bosley Bobbing Head Doll Company has retained intellectual property litigation powerhouse Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP, a 170-attorney, San Francisco-based law firm, in its fight to protect its First Amendment right to manufacture and distribute a bobble head doll satirizing California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Townsend is working with Bosley Bobbing Head Doll Company owners and brothers Todd and Toby Bosley on a pro bono basis to help level the playing field as the Canton, Ohio-based company takes on the governor and his film empire.

In a lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on April 30, 2004, the company that licenses publicity rights of Arnold Schwarzenegger alleges the Bosley brothers infringed Schwarzenegger's rights by manufacturing and distributing a bobble head doll in his likeness. The doll, dressed in a business suit, is marketed via the Web alongside bobble heads of other political figures, including George Bush and Hillary Clinton.

"Folks are clearly making a political statement with their purchase of our bobble head doll, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger cannot expect to be immune to satire," said Todd Bosley. "We think that Governor Schwarzenegger saw a family-owned, Midwestern, specialty business and thought he could intimidate us with a letter from his Hollywood lawyers, but Bosley Bobbing Head Doll Company is committed to fighting for our rights and the First Amendment rights of all Americans."

"As an intellectual property litigation attorney, I am clearly an advocate for tough intellectual property protection, but IP simply cannot be used to trump the First Amendment in this case. We think this is an important case, we're fully prepared to defend the Bosley bobbleheads, and we're confident we will win in court, if necessary," said William T. Gallagher, a partner with Townsend and an adjunct professor of intellectual property law at Santa Clara University and Golden Gate University School of Law, who with Townsend Partner Leigh A. Kirmsse will lead the defense of this case.

Owned and operated by brothers Todd and Toby Bosley, Bosley Bobbing Head Doll Company is a division of O.D.M. Incorporated, located in Canton, Ohio. On the Internet: www.bosleybobbers.com and www.bobbingheadelection.com.

Townsend, one of 15 firms in the nation honored by The American Lawyer in its Overall "Litigation Department of the Year" contest for 2003, was originally founded in the 1860s. Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP focuses on intellectual property law, teaming with businesses, inventors, entrepreneurs, scientists and investors to protect their innovative products and ideas. The firm offers a full range of intellectual property services: patent prosecution; licensing; trademark and copyright; and litigation, with additional expertise in antitrust; and other complex business litigation. With offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Walnut Creek, Denver and Seattle, Townsend has 170 attorneys, many of whom have advanced technical degrees and extensive scientific and business experience. For more information, visit the firm's Web site located at www.townsend.com.