Streaming giant Netflix could soon face a defamation suit over its hit series "The Queen's Gambit", as its appeal has been rejected.
Netflix has been accused of misrepresenting "one of the most important achievements of her career" in the series by world chess champion Nona Gaprindashvili.
The Georgian chess player has objected to a dialogue in the play, which his lawyers say has tarnished Nona Gaprindashvili personal and professional reputation.
The Queen's Gambit is about the legendary chess player Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), but it also contains references to real-life celebrities, including Nona Gaprindashvili. Often cited.
In the final episode of the series, a commentator compares Hormone's accomplishments during a game of chess to those of Geprindashvili, but says that Nona "never faced men" while playing, even though she did.
Netflix said in its defense that the lawsuit was filed to obtain 5 million, and that what was shown on the show had nothing to do with defamation. However, the district judge did not agree with Netflix's argument. Is.
The streaming service argued that the purpose was not to offend Nona Gaprindashvili.
One of the many arguments put forward by the streaming service's lawyer was that the company did not have to agree with what was shown on the show, indicating that all the characters in the show were fictitious.
The judge, on the other hand, rejected the argument, saying it was not enough to refute the chess player's factual claim.
In a court ruling Thursday, a California Central District Court judge said, "Otherwise, there is no evidence to stop defamation claims for portraying real people in fictional works."
The legal documents state, "On the contrary, the fact that this series was a fictional series, if all the elements of defamation exist, then defamation proceedings on Netflix is obligatory."
Lawyers for the 80-year-old Nona Gaprindashvili say she was the first woman in history to be made a grandmaster of international chess.
She added: "During the plaintiff's career, being a woman, she was subjected to severe discrimination.
When the series aired, several news outlets and various individual Internet users commented on the "line" error.
The plaintiff claims that the line "misrepresented one of the most significant achievements of (his) career, and tarnished his personal and professional reputation in front of millions of viewers around the world."
"The plaintiff claims that this line breaks the hearts of hard-working winners in his profession."
