How fair use brought us VCRs, copiers—and nude Barbie enchiladas

Don't mess with Barbie—especially not in a vaguely sexual way that also involves enchiladas or a vintage Hamilton Beach malt machine.

Thomas Forsythe learned this lesson the hard way during his years-long fair use fight against Barbie's maker, Mattel. Back in 1997, the self-taught Utah photographer created a set of 78 pictures of Barbie in, as a court later described it, "various absurd and often sexualized positions."

Forsythe called the series "Food Chain Barbie"; it was meant as a commentary on female objectification and consumer culture. The series included Barbie heads in a fondue pot, Barbies on the half shell, and three Barbies floating in a bed pan. Most of the dolls were nude.

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