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The German text of the song "Hey, Pippi Longstocking" violates copyright law according to a judgment by the Hamburg Regional Court.
The heirs of the Swedish children's book author Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002) must be involved in the exploitation of the lyrics, the civil chamber said on Wednesday.
In 1969, Lindgren expressly refused to allow the author of the German text version, Wolfgang Franke, to call himself the sole author.
The Münchner Filmkunst-Musikverlags- und Produktionsgesellschaft and Franke's widow are not allowed to spread the text "Two times three makes four, widewidewitt and three makes nine, I'll make the world as I like it ..." if the judgment is carried out becomes.
They also have to provide information about the income since 2007 and pay the Lindgren heirs compensation for the lost stake.
"That's an icon, almost a German cultural asset"
However, all those involved in the process agreed that it would be a shame if the lyrics could no longer be distributed, stressed Judge Benjamin Korte.
"We will do everything we can to ensure that this does not happen", assured attorney Ralph Oliver Graef, who represents the Lindgren heir company.
“It's an icon, almost a German cultural asset,” he said of Pippi Longstocking.