Children of late French movie star Alain Delon feud over 鈥榤oral rights鈥�
Actor Alain-Fabien claims his father lacked mental capacity to make changes to will
Alain Delon died in 2024
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The youngest son of Alain Delon is taking his sister to court to contest her exclusive rights to the late actor鈥檚 image and name.
Mr Delon, who died in August 2024, made two amendments to his 2015 will to ensure 鈥榤oral rights鈥� were entrusted solely to his daughter Anouchka, whereas the earlier will specified a 50% share (and 25% for each of her two brothers).
This provision is being challenged by Alain-Fabien, who not only shares his father鈥檚 name, but is an actor himself.
He claims his father lacked the mental capacity to make such changes, having suffered a stroke in 2019, and has previously unpublished medical records to back up his suit.
Largely symbolic in scope, moral rights protect the integrity of creative work in perpetuity.
They can be exercised, for example, if the holder feels that use of an image has been distorted, or to review the use of the name 鈥楢lain Delon鈥� for a place or institution.
They are distinct from copyright, which lasts for 70 years and protects a financial interest in the deceased's works.
The first hearing is due to take place on March 9, 2026.
Paris Match magazine recently reported that Alain-Fabien has decided to drop the 鈥楩abien鈥� from his first name and now wishes to be called 鈥楢lain Delon', like his father.
It is not the first time he has publicly feuded with his sister over the succession.
He briefly joined forces with his elder brother to accuse her of manipulating their father.
However, in 2023, all three united to expel Hiromi Rollin, Alain Delon鈥檚 last companion, from his estate, accusing her of mistreatment.
