A California appeals court dismissed Olivia de Havilland's lawsuit against FX Networks over the first season of its "Feud" TV series.
The actress sued FX last year over Catherine Zeta-Jones' brief portrayal of her in the TV drama. The main focus of the season explores the contentious relationship between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.
In the lawsuit, de Havilland claimed no one consulted her about the series and that her name and likeness were used without her permission.
The court's decision Monday is a win not just for the network, but also for Hollywood in general. If the court ruled in de Havilland's favor, filmmakers might've had a hard time telling stories about historical events that aren't 100 percent accurate.
Ruling in favor of free speech, one of the judges wrote: "Whether a person portrayed in one of these expressive works is a world-renowned film star — 'a living legend' — or a person no one knows, she or he does not own history. Nor does she or he have the legal right to control, dictate, approve, disapprove, or veto the creator's portrayal of actual people."
Ryan Murphy, the creator of "Feud," called the court's decision "a victory for the creative community." De Havilland's attorney says she plans to appeal.
