Composer sues game maker Electronic Arts over use of UNLV fight song

Gerald Willis of Reno, composer of the UNLV fight song "Win With the Rebels," has filed a lawsuit against sports game publisher Electronic Arts, claiming the company used the song without permission in 10 of its video games.

Willis filed the lawsuit against Electronic Arts in U.S. District Court in Nevada on Sept. 29, requesting up to $150,000 for each copyright violation.

Willis registered "Win With the Rebels" under a copyright in 1990, according to his lawyer, Ellen Winograd. In the lawsuit, Willis claims his song can be heard in Electronic Arts' games "NCAA Basketball," 2009 version; "NCAA Football," 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 versions; "NCAA March Madness," 2006, 2007 and 2008 versions; and "NCAA Baseball," 2006 and 2007 versions.

Calls to Electronic Arts seeking comment on the lawsuit were not returned.

Winograd said Willis is seeking the amount of money allowed by the law.

"The U.S. copyright law allows for enforcement of copyright, and we trust the judge to determine what would be appropriate in a situation like this," she said.

UNLV is not named in the lawsuit. The university holds a limited license to use the song, Winograd said.

"I think the UNLV band sounds great when they play it, and that's what it was written for," she said. "It was not written for commercial use."

UNLV Vice President and General Counsel Richard Linstrom agreed that the university is in no danger of a lawsuit.

"After the dust settles on this, I am confident that UNLV will have no difficulty in using our fight song," he said.

Willis works as a high school music teacher and a conductor for the Truckee Meadows Community College orchestra. He also wrote and donated Nevada's official march, "Silver State Fanfare."

Contact Southeast and Southwest View reporter Danielle Nadler at dnadler@viewnews.com or 224-5524.