A lawsuit concerning a musician's rights against Sega has been dismissed, leaving the song in question in a state of uncertainty

Johnny Gioeli's legal action against Sega regarding the rights to the Sonic Adventure 2 theme song "Live & Learn" has been dropped.

Gioeli, a member of Crush 40, originally filed the lawsuit in December 2024. His claim stated that the usage of "Live & Learn" beyond the Sonic Adventure 2 game violated his contractual agreement with Sega. More details about the lawsuit can be found here.

In his legal filing, Gioeli argued that he held sole ownership over the song because he composed, recorded, and produced it independently, with no input from Sega. He also claimed to possess the original master recording. Nonetheless, he conceded that Sega might have joint ownership but insisted their rights were "restricted solely to the lyrics."

The lawsuit accused Sega of utilizing and licensing the song across more than 25 video games, as well as in other media such as TV, films, and live events, without his consent. Gioeli sought financial recompense and a legal determination to clarify ownership of the song.

On September 22, 2025, Gioeli issued a statement on X confirming the dismissal. He indicated the decision was due to timing issues and not a resolution on ownership. He said, "The song remains in 'limbo'."

Caption: Image credit: Sega

Gioeli also highlighted an encounter with Epic Games, stating, "Epic Games recently contacted me to potentially use 'Live & Learn,' and it was Sega who instructed them to reach out for the rights." This ongoing situation leaves the song in what he described as "the abyss of ownership."

Last week, Eurogamer reported leaks suggesting an upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog crossover in Fortnite, although no official confirmation has been provided.

"The song is mine," Gioeli asserted, noting his collaboration with Jun, and mentioning that he wrote the lyrics, performed the vocals, and created the melody independently. He expressed gratitude for his supporters: "Thanks for your endless support and love. Life isn't always fair... but we all move forward in love and music."

GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Sega and Epic Games for further comments.