LA Judge Rules Artist Can Parody Barbie in Artwork

US District Court Judge Ronald Lew ruled on Monday that the free speech rights of Utah artist Tom Forsythe — who was sued by Mattel two years ago after he parodied Barbie dolls in a series of photographs meant as a stinging social comment — outweigh the company’s trademarks and intellectual property rights as they relate to the 42-year-old doll