Netflix settles defamation suit with Georgian chess legend Nona Gaprindashvili

Netflix has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by the legendary Georgian chess player and five-time world champion Nona Gaprindashvili following a year of legal proceedings over the latter’s claim of defamation in an episode of The Queen’s Gambit television series, entertainment website variety.com reported on Tuesday.

Attorney Alexander Rufus-Isaacs, who represented Gaprindashvili in the case in the United States alongside Rodney A. Smolla, said in comments on the settlement “the parties are pleased that the matter has been resolved”. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed.

In her lawsuit, the Georgian chess legend had argued defamation in connection to an episode where a remark in the series wrongly stated she had “never faced men” in her career.

The comment comes as Beth Harmon, the protagonist in the series, faces a male competitor at a Moscow tournament in the final episode of the series. “The only unusual thing about her, really, is her sex. And even that’s not unique in Russia. There’s Nona Gaprindashvili, but she is the female world champion and has never faced men,” the episode says in reference to the Georgian player.

• Georgian chess legend Gaprindashvili files $5 mln defamation suit against Netflix

In her lawsuit, Gaprindashvili argued that by 1968, when the episode was set, she had competed against at least 59 male chess players, including 10 grandmasters. She and her legal team argued the reference was “grossly sexist and belittling”, and sought $5 million from the American company.

Netflix had attempted to have the lawsuit dismissed by claiming First Amendment rights, but in January a federal judge rejected the argument, holding that fictional works were not immune from lawsuits if they defamed real people. The company appealed the ruling to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, but on Tuesday the appeal was dismissed.

While commenting on the issue, Kakha Sharabidze, part of Gaprindashvili’s legal team in Georgia, congratulated Gaprindashvili and her fans for “effective” ending of the dispute with Netflix.

A few months ago, Gaprindashvili said she would  fight till the end and she kept her promise,” Sharabidze said on Wednesday.

Sharabidze also said the the US Court of Appeals had offered them an authoritative mediator for mediation, which is an accepted practise for the dispute parties to agree.  He also noted the terms of the agreement, all circumstances and nuances were "strictly confidential".