US toymaker Mattel can sue a British dollmaker who turned squeaky-clean Barbie into an X-rated “Dungeon Doll” – but is unlikely to win the breach-of-copyright action, a judge has said.

Barbie’s kinky reincarnation by English doll maker angered toy manufacturer Mattel, which has been producing wholesome versions of the shapely blond American icon for more than 40 years.