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Michigan ‘Let’s Go Blue’ Composers Settle Lawsuit Over ‘College Football’ Video Game Synch
The composers of the University of Michigan’s “Let’s Go Blue” fight song and its publishers have settled their legal dispute over the song’s licensing for EA’s College Football video game. The case centred on who had the right to license the music, and whether the composers had regained its copyright, but the settlement terms were not disclosed.
Publishers Theodore Presser and Carl Fischer said they had administered the song since a 1978 deal, while composers Albert Ahronheim and Joe Carl argued their rights reverted to them in 2013. The publishers licensed the song to EA in 2024 for a reported $1,000 fee; after the composers objected, EA removed it from the game. The settlement resolves all issues between the parties, but it remains unclear whether the song will return to the game.
In short
- The song’s composers and publishers settled their licensing dispute.
- The disagreement centred on copyright rights and a reported $1,000 fee.
- It is unclear whether “Let’s Go Blue” will return to the game.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The publishers could argue that the 1978 agreement gave them a continuing role in administering and licensing the song, and that licensing it to EA was a routine exercise of those rights. Resolving the dispute through settlement avoids further legal costs and uncertainty for all involved.
The case against
The composers could argue that their rights reverted in 2013, giving them authority over later uses of their work, including its inclusion in a video game. From their perspective, objecting to the licence was a reasonable way to protect control over the song and ensure it was used on terms they accepted.
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