A Sonic composer is taking legal action against Sega of America concerning song rights

A legal dispute has arisen between Sega of America and musician Johnny Gioeli, known for his involvement with the band Crush 40. Gioeli has filed a lawsuit against Sega regarding the track 'Live & Learn,' the theme song for the 2001 game, Sonic Adventure 2.

According to Game Developer, the lawsuit stems from Gioeli's assertion that he independently created, recorded, and produced the song, and claims to possess the original master track without Sega's input.

This iconic song, initially featured in Sonic Adventure 2, has subsequently been included in several Super Smash Bros games featuring Sonic, in addition to appearing in Sega's Yakuza series and Capcom's Monster Hunter Rise.

Gioeli is pursuing monetary damages, alleging that the song's use beyond the original game infringes upon his agreement with Sony. Furthermore, he seeks legal clarification regarding the song's ownership.

Despite acknowledging that 'Live & Learn' might be co-owned by him and Sega, Gioeli contends that Sega's rights pertain solely to the song's lyrics.

Crush 40, having collaborated with Sega on numerous Sonic game soundtracks over 23 years, had specific arrangements stipulating ownership rights and master recordings for their contributions, according to Gioeli.