The music composers behind the original Bungie-developed “Halo” video games are suing Microsoft over unpaid royalties according to a report in Eurogamer.
Marty O’Donnell and Mike Salvatori, who created the iconic Halo music with its choral monk chant along with the ‘der der der der’ refrain, claim Microsoft still owes them money relating to royalties dating back twenty years.
Lawyers representing the pair filed the lawsuit back in mid-2020 and a date for mediation is set for next week. If no agreement is reached, the dispute may go to court.
O’Donnell tells the outlet he and Salvatori, trading as O’Donnell Salvatori Inc., created and licensed the “Halo” music in 1999 to Bungie – a deal that remained in place when Bungie was bought by Microsoft in 2000.
Microsoft’s counterclaim seeks a declaration that the “Halo” music qualifies as work-for-hire and as such Microsoft qualifies as the author of that work.
O’Donnell and Salvatori have also reportedly instructed their lawyers to explore the possibility of blocking the release of the upcoming “Halo” TV series with a preliminary injunction.
Source: Eurogamer via Slashfilm
