Toymaker may sue over 'Bondage Barbie'

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.

US District Judge Laura Taylor Swain based her findings on arguments made by Mattel and the defendant, Susanne Pitt, who communicated from her home in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, with two letters and two e-mails.