The long-running dispute between Crush 40 vocalist Johnny Gioeli and SEGA over the ownership of Live & Learn, the iconic theme of Sonic Adventure 2, has officially reached its conclusion. Newly released court documents confirm that Gioeli’s claims have been dismissed in their entirety, siding fully with SEGA.
According to the final judgment filed on August 28, 2025, in the Central District of California, Judge R. Gary Klausner granted SEGA’s Motion for Summary Judgment, striking down Gioeli’s First Amended Complaint. The ruling stated that Gioeli “take nothing by way of the [complaint],” and dismissed the case “in its entirety with prejudice on the merits.”
The judgment also requires Gioeli to cancel the copyright registrations he filed in 2024 for both the song’s sound recording and musical composition, as well as “any other copyright registrations” related to Live & Learn.
Gioeli originally filed suit in December 2024, seeking at least $500,000 in royalties. He argued that he recorded and arranged the track independently from SEGA’s direct oversight. SEGA countered that his contributions were done as work-for-hire under contracts signed in 2001, and further argued that any claims were barred by the Copyright Act’s three-year statute of limitations.
After preliminary hearings in April and May 2025 narrowed Gioeli’s claims, SEGA pressed forward with its summary judgment motion in July. By August, the Court had ruled decisively in SEGA’s favor. For fans, the outcome means SEGA retains full and undisputed control of Live & Learn, ensuring its continued use across Sonic projects without legal uncertainty.
However, the story doesn’t end there. Shortly after the ruling became public, Gioeli issued a statement on social media emphasizing that the dismissal was based on timing rather than ownership. Calling the song “mine,” Gioeli wrote, “I wrote it with Jun, I sing it, I created the melody, I recorded my vocals in my studio, and they do not own it.” He described Live & Learn as existing in the “abyss of ownership,” while also claiming that Epic Games had recently contacted him directly for licensing rights to the song, reportedly at SEGA’s direction.
For the community, the case highlights the often-complex relationship between publishers and the artists behind gaming’s most beloved soundtracks. While the court’s decision provides SEGA with clear legal control, fans continue to recognize Gioeli’s irreplaceable creative role in shaping Live & Learn into the anthem it has become.
Stay tuned to Sonic City for more News and Updates.
Via: ResetEra
Source: Court Listener
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