Crush 40 lead singer sues SEGA over "Live and Learn" copyright concerns

An iconic Sonic theme song sparks a legal showdown between the Crush 40 lead singer and SEGA of America

Johnny Gioeli, lead singer of Crush 40 and co-creator of Sonic Adventure 2's 'Live and Learn' theme song, reportedly sued SEGA of America early December for allegedly misusing the song without proper licencing or compensation.

Why it matters: 'Live and Learn' became a cultural touchstone for Sonic fans, but the lawsuit newly discovered by Vox's Nicole Carpenter revealed a deeper dispute over ownership rights and royalties.

"I have no comment other than my desire to maintain the preservation of a long standing beautiful relationship with SEGA", Gioeli said in a statement to Polygon.
He continued, “I do not want fans to draw conclusions or be disrupted from the beautiful memories we have made collectively with this music. I believe and hope we will come to a peaceful settlement that will be fair and just.”

Yes, but: The lawsuit does not impact the song's inclusion in Paramount Pictures' upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 film.

Gioeli confirmed to Tails' Channel in February that he agreed to a separate deal with Paramount for the film's soundtrack.

Driving the news: Gioeli filed the lawsuit in the California district courts, and claimed that SEGA used the track in at least 25 games beyond its original appearance in Sonic Adventure 2 without proper licencing.

He claimed he was paid $3,000 USD for the lyrics following the 2001 collaboration with SEGA composer Jun Senoue, but his broader role in production and arrangement gave him ownership of the master recording.
The singer alleged SEGA, who only held rights to the lyrics, failed to secure licencing agreements for the song's widespread reuse, leading to unpaid royalties he estimated at over $500,000 USD.
Gioeli asked for a court ruling on the ownership of the master recording of the 'Live & Learn' song, and for compensation of the unpaid royalties.

What they're saying: Gioeli’s lawyer alleged SEGA acknowledged his partial ownership of the song's profits as a "joint work", but refused to formally account for his copyright claims.