Convicted in Italy for copying the title “Une fille de France” by Gianni Nazzaro, the singer and his lyricist, Didier Barbelivien, will no longer receive any copyright on their song.
If the piece We’re going to love each other by Gilbert Montagné is likely to resonate in many homes during the end-of-year holidays, the singer will however not receive a single cent from these listenings.
And for good reason, as revealed by the media L’Informé, the artist and his lyricist, Didier Barbelivien, were condemned in Italy for plagiarizing the title A girl from France by Gianni Nazzaro, released in 1976. Consequently, neither Gilbert Montagné nor Didier Barbelivien will receive future royalties from listening to We’re going to love each other.
A case in the making since 2012
According to L’Informé, the case dates back to 2012. Gianni Nazzaro, at the time still alive, – the Italian artist died in July 2021 – decided to file a complaint for plagiarism against Gilbert Montagné and Didier Barbelivien for their title We’re going to love each other.
But, for ten years, the two artists refused to recognize this dispute and to pay the royalties of the piece to Michel Cywie and Jean-Max Rivière, to whom we owe the creation of the song A girl from France.
Over time, Gilbert Montagné and Didier Barbelivien were finally caught by the Italian justice system, which decided to take the singer, his lyricist, their publishing companies and SACEM to court to block their royalties.
On October 9, 2024, the Paris Court of Appeal ruled on the case and rendered a judgment in favor of Gianni Nazzaro. Gilbert Montagné and Didier Barbelivien will therefore have to pay 30,000 euros in damages to the heirs of the Italian singer and renounce their royalties.
A shame for Gilbert Montagné since in 2009 the singer himself filed a complaint against Flunch, whom he accused of plagiarism for this same song. The restaurant brand took over the title We’re going to love each other in one of its advertisements by transforming it into “We’re going to Fluncher”. The legal battle was this time won by Gilbert Montagné who received 30,000 euros in damages.
