Tom Forsythe

Tom Forsythe is an American artist and tai chi instructor who lives and works in Utah. He is known for his creative photographs with Barbie dolls. His photos were special and got a lot of attention.

Some of his work caused a problem with Mattel, the company that makes Barbie dolls. Mattel did not like his photos and took action. But later, a court decided in 2004 that his images were original artwork. This helped explain how artists can use products in their work.

Career

Tom Forsythe is known for his "Barbie" portraits. In these pictures, Barbie dolls appear in unusual places, often in kitchens or with kitchen tools. This series is called the "Food Chain Barbie." Forsythe’s art shows the world in a strange way. He uses Barbie dolls because they are an important symbol in American culture. When Barbie was first made, she was meant to show beauty and give an idea of how women should look and behave. Forsythe wanted to challenge these ideas through his art.

Today, Forsythe owns the Little Hollywood Museum in Kanab, Utah and has taught tai chi for over 20 years. He also offers online tai chi classes.

Mattel Inc. v. Walking Mountain Productions (9th Cir. 2003)

Main article: Mattel Inc. v. Walking Mountain Prods.

Tom Forsythe made artwork using Barbie dolls to talk about beauty and society. Mattel Inc., the company that makes Barbie dolls, felt he was using their dolls without permission. They sued him in 1999. After many years in court, the court decided that Forsythe’s artwork was allowed under the fair use rule. This rule lets people use copyrighted material for criticism or commentary without permission.

Many artists and supporters were happy with the decision. They felt it showed that strict copyright rules can limit sharing ideas. Forsythe saw it as a win for free speech, believing his art helped show important ideas. He also learned about how difficult and expensive it can be to fight big companies in court.