The legal action by a musician against Sega concerning rights to a Sonic composition has been dismissed, leaving the song's status unresolved

A court has thrown out Johnny Gioeli's legal action against Sega regarding the Live & Learn theme from Sonic Adventure 2.

Gioeli, a key figure in the band Crush 40, initiated the legal proceedings against Sega in December 2024. The lawsuit claimed that Sega's usage of Live & Learn beyond the parameters of Sonic Adventure 2 breached his agreement with the company. More details on this are available through GamesIndustry.biz.

The lawsuit purported that Gioeli maintained full ownership of Live & Learn, asserting it was composed, recorded, and produced independently at his residence, with Sega not involved. Moreover, Gioeli allegedly possesses the master recording, as highlighted in a document on Scribd.

Though acknowledging a potential shared ownership with Sega, Gioeli argued that Sega's claim was strictly limited to the lyrics of the song.

The filing accused Sega of unauthorized "exploitation and licensing" of the song across numerous video games and various media formats, all without Gioeli's consent. He sought a financial settlement and a court ruling to define the rightful ownership.

In a statement shared through an X post on September 22, 2025, Gioeli announced the dismissal of his lawsuit.

"The dismissal of the case against Sega was due to timing, not ownership. The song's rights remain unresolved," Gioeli clarified. He added, "Just two weeks ago, Epic Games approached me to secure rights for Live & Learn, guided by Sega. The ownership stands unresolved."

Eurogamer mentioned leaks that hinted at a possible Sonic the Hedgehog crossover in Fortnite, though this remains unverified.

Gioeli reiterated, "The song is mine. I composed and sang it, developing the melody and recording my vocals independently."

He expressed gratitude, stating, "Thank you all for your steadfast support. Although life can be unjust, we continue forward with love and music."

Requests for statements have been extended to Sega and Epic Games by GamesIndustry.biz.