Yoko Ono's attempt to remove John Lennon's "Imagine" from a documentary on intelligent design was shot down this week by a federal judge.  Ono along with Sean and Julian Lennon sued the filmmakers behind "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," which was released in April. They claimed the makers used the song without permission.  Ono had sought a preminary injunction before the movie gets a wider release.  It's set to open in Canada this month.

"One of the most basic rights I control by reviewing and choosing licenses is the right to say `no,'" Ono said. "The filmmakers simply looted me of the ability to do so."

The movie contains the line "nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too." The filmmakers argued in court that it was central to the movie because "it represents the most popular and persuasive embodiment of this viewpoint that the world is better off without religion. "The film is "asking if John Lennon was right and it's concluding he was wrong." Ono plans to appeal.

As we reported a couple weeks ago, the film features Ben Stein -- yes, that Ben Stein, that funny Ben Stein -- defending intelligent design. Damn, almost as painful as finding out one of your favorite musicians of all time is a Scientologist. [Associated Press]