And We're going to love each other remains a must-have in playlists, especially for New Year's Eve, the song will now no longer bring in a cent for its creators. Gilbert Montagné and Didier Barbelivien have just lost the copyright on theone of the most iconic hits of the 80s. A decision which follows a long-term legal battle over accusations of plagiarism.
The dispute is not new. In 2012, accusations of plagiarism were made by Italian artists. According to them, We're going to love each other strongly resembles A girl from Francea song performed by Gianni Nazzaro and released in 1976. Italian justice ruled in favor of the latter, condemning Montagné and Barbelivien. However, the two French people, supported by SACEM (Society of Authors, Composers and Music Publishers), had refused to pay the claimed copyright.
For more than a decade, status quo, until Italian composers took legal action in France, demanding 1.67 million euros in damages for uncollected duties. The Paris court has finally ruled: the copyright ofWe're going to love each other will now return to the Italian composers, for all world exploitations of the title.
Gilbert Montagné had himself accused of plagiarism
In addition to the loss of royalties, Gilbert Montagné and Didier Barbelivien must pay 30,000 euros in compensation. An amount certainly far from the 1.67 million requested, but which still marks a symbolic defeat. Ironically: Gilbert Montagné himself won a lawsuit for plagiarism in 2009 against the restaurant brand Flunch, which had parodied We're going to love each other in We're going to have fun. At the time, he had pocketed… 30,000 euros, exactly the amount he owes the Italians today.
This decision marks a decisive step, but the legal drama could continue: Gilbert Montagné and Didier Barbelivien still have the possibility of appealing to the Court of Cassation. In the meantime, they will no longer receive anything from this hit that made them famous.
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