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The long-running legal dispute over the ownership of Sonic Adventure 2’s iconic theme, Live & Learn, has come to a halt. Musician Johnny Gioeli, vocalist for the band Crush 40, has confirmed that his lawsuit against Sega has been dismissed.
Back in December 2024, Gioeli filed suit against Sega, alleging that the company had overstepped the bounds of his contract by using Live & Learn in multiple projects beyond its original appearance in Sonic Adventure 2. He claimed sole ownership of the track, stating that he wrote, recorded, and produced it independently in his own studio, and that he still possesses the master recording.
Although acknowledging the possibility of joint ownership with Sega, Gioeli argued that Sega’s stake was limited to the song’s lyrics. The lawsuit accused Sega of exploiting the track across more than 25 video games, as well as in television, film, and live performances, all without his direct approval. The musician sought compensation and legal clarity over the song’s rights.
On September 22, 2025, Gioeli announced on X that the case had been dismissed. In his statement, he emphasized that the dismissal was based on timing rather than ownership, leaving the rights to Live & Learn unresolved:
“The song remains in limbo,” Gioeli wrote. “Just two weeks ago, I was contacted by Epic Games to potentially use Live & Learn… and the amazing part is Sega had them call me for the rights to use the song. So, there you have it. The most epic song remains in the abyss of ownership.”
Interestingly, this statement follows recent leaks suggesting that Fortnite may feature a Sonic the Hedgehog crossover, though neither Epic Games nor Sega has confirmed this.
Gioeli remains adamant that the song is his creation:
“The song is mine. I wrote it with Jun, I sing it, I created the melody, I recorded my vocals in my studio, and they do not own it.”
He closed his message by thanking fans for their support:
“Life isn’t always fair… but we all move forward in love and music.”
As of now, Sega and Epic Games have not commented on the matter.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
This article was written by a Nintendojo, Jr. Contributor. You can learn more about the initiative here.
