Last year, Johnny Gioeli, singer and songwriter for longtime Sonic collaborator Crush 40, began a lawsuit campaign against SEGA for the rights to one of the franchise's best-loved tunes, Live and Learn.
Now, he's confirmed that the lawsuit has been dismissed by the court, leaving the song "in limbo".
According to Gioeli's lawsuit, SEGA technically only owns the rights to the song's lyrics, while the "master recording and musical composition" belongs to him. The publisher has utilised the song in dozens of games, TV shows, live performances and more "unbeknownst" to Gioeli.
He was apparently drafted in to write the lyrics to what would become Live and Learn, which led to a much deeper collaboration with Jun Senoue "without the supervision, control, or involvement" of SEGA itself.
Unfortunately, due to the case being dismissed, the question of whether Gioeli or SEGA has control of Live and Learn is still hanging in the balance.
In a statement to social media, Gioeli clarifies that the court dismissal was "based on time, not ownership", saying the song "remains in 'limbo'".
The song is mine. I wrote it with Jun [Senoue], I sing it, I created the melody, I recorded the vocals in my studio and [SEGA] do not own it.
An interesting wrinkle to all this is Epic Games, which is apparently seeking the rights to use Live and Learn in what we presume is a crossover between Sonic and Fortnite. Such a thing was leaked recently.
"Just 2 weeks ago, I was contacted by Epic Games to potentially use Live and Learn," Gioeli writes, "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'."
It all seems pretty messy, but hopefully the Sonic Adventure 2 tune doesn't remain tangled up in legalese for too long.
[source x.com, via eurogamer.net, eurogamer.net]
Comments 10
Live and learn is a certified banger!
Slight tangent but I think it's time both Sonic Adventure 1 & 2 got remasters, maybe more of remake when it comes to 1, or dare I be so bold and ask for a 3rd installment please Sega.
Usually I would support artists but this guy really just needs to accept he is going to piss more people off if he takes custody of this song. If it wasn't for the game would it really be this popular? I don't think so. People are playing as two legendary hedgehogs while listening to this and it's an influence to a memorable moment.
Yes the song is good but it owes itself to two characters in a video game as much as the artists talent.
Please just ask for something and move on. You are 25 years older now.
I bet he wouldn't be raising this stink if the song didn't become popular with Sonic fans.
Reminds me of the Sonic 3 music rights issue as well.
Can we please stop being greedy ***** and let Sonic fans enjoy their games?
Like the Sonic 3 tracks for ice cap and launch base are no longer used and what for? Who gained from it? Nobody cares about those without the game.
Live and learn is nothing without Sonic adventure 2.
Yet another franchise getting put into Fortnite, gonna have more kids going that so and so from Fortnite is getting his/her own game like they did before with the Xenomorphs from Alien
@Lowdefal
They weren’t rearranged for Origins at all they were completely changed to a terrible OST instead
@Lowdefal
Not too worry
@Lowdefal That was then. Now videogames are bigger than the music industry and that brings about those that didn't care before into wanting a slice of the cake. It's opportunistic.
What’s up in the air here? He filed suit and it got dismissed in favor of Sega. That sure doesn’t sound like the song is in “limbo.” It sounds like his case was frivolous and that Sega owns the song.
@Oram77 It's because of this why Sega haven't done a remaster or maybe a SA3 because it's the franchises main theme
@Nem Supposedly it was Michael Jackson that Collabed on the Sonic 3 soundtrack but Sega dismiss it, but MJs people didn't to also want to be associated with Sonic either it's such a weird situation.
I still sing all the level songs every now and then to Sonic 3 and even 2 because they were that dam good
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