Tommy Tallarico and Roblox reportedly settled their dispute over the “Oof” sound in November 2020, according to GamesBeat’s November 10, 2020 report. The financial terms were not disclosed. No court ruled on who owned the sound. Tallarico did not file a lawsuit; GamesBeat reported that he went into talks with Roblox instead. Roblox removed the sound in 2022 citing a licensing issue, and Windows Central reported that it returned in a Roblox update on July 18, 2025. The reporting does not state the terms of that return.
Where the dispute started
The dispute has two competing accounts, and they should be kept apart.
Roblox’s account
In a statement dated January 11, 2020, Roblox said that its founders, Erik and David, obtained the Oof sound and other original Roblox sounds from a stock sound CD-ROM they had purchased. Roblox described that CD-ROM as a source of licensed, copyright-free sounds. The company also said that Tallarico had not provided proof of ownership in response to its requests. This is Roblox’s own position. It is not a finding by a court or an independent review.
Tallarico’s account
According to GamesBeat, Tallarico learned in 2019 that the Roblox sound matched a sound he had created for Messiah, the 2000 video game. GamesBeat described the sound file as 0.34 seconds long, dating from September 1999, and credited to engineer Joey Kuras. Those file details come from GamesBeat’s reporting and are not independently verified in the sources available for this article.
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Timeline
| Date | Event | Source of the claim |
|---|---|---|
| September 1999 | Origin date given for the sound file, credited to engineer Joey Kuras | GamesBeat, November 2020 |
| 2000 | Messiah is released | GamesBeat, November 2020 |
| 2019 | Tallarico learns the Roblox sound matches his Messiah sound | GamesBeat, November 2020 |
| January 11, 2020 | Roblox publishes its statement on the sound’s origin and says Tallarico provided no proof of ownership | Roblox |
| November 10, 2020 | Settlement reported after talks between Tallarico and Roblox | GamesBeat |
| 2022 | Roblox removes the sound, citing a licensing issue | Windows Central, July 2025 retrospective |
| July 18, 2025 | The sound returns in an update that Windows Central described as a surprise; Roblox Creator Hub links to the raw audio | Windows Central, July 2025 |
What the 2020 settlement covered
GamesBeat reported that Tallarico could not discuss the precise financial details of the agreement. It said the sound would be temporarily removed from Roblox and would then be available for developers to license. It also reported that Tallarico had created four sound-design libraries for Roblox developers. Those were described as a 2020 offering. The reporting does not establish whether they are still sold or licensed, so treat them as a historical detail.
A Roblox spokesperson, quoted by GamesBeat in the November 10, 2020 report, said:
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“We worked together to find a fair resolution that allows Tommy to become part of the Roblox community. As part of our commitment towards UGC content, we will replace the platform’s default ‘game over’ sound effect with a new audio track later this month. When our Developer Marketplace is available, people will also be able to choose community created sounds for platform-wide events.”
The quote describes Roblox’s plans for the default game-over sound and for community-created sounds. It does not say which party was right about the original sound.
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- The easiest way to add Robux (Roblox’s digital currency) to your account. Use Robux to deck out your avatar and unlock additional perks in your favorite Roblox experiences.
- This is a digital gift card that can only be redeemed for Robux at Roblox.com/redeem. It cannot be redeemed in the Roblox mobile app or any video game console. Please allow up to 5 minutes for your balance to be updated after redeeming.
- Roblox Gift Cards can be redeemed worldwide, perfect for gifting to Roblox fans anywhere in the world.
- From now on, when you redeem a Roblox Gift Card, you get up to 25% more Robux. Perfect for gaming, creating, and exploring- more Robux means more possibilities!
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Where the sound stands now
Windows Central’s July 2025 retrospective reports that Roblox removed the sound in 2022 because of a licensing issue. It also reports that the sound returned in a Roblox update on July 18, 2025, and that Roblox Creator Hub linked to the raw audio. The reporting does not describe the terms of the newer arrangement, including whether any payment or license was involved. The most recent reporting available for this article dates from July 2025, so changes after that date are not covered here.
What is established and what is not
- Established by reporting: a settlement was reached in November 2020 after talks, and the sound was removed in 2022 and returned in July 2025.
- Roblox’s claim, not a finding: the sound came from a licensed stock CD-ROM, and Tallarico did not supply proof of ownership.
- Tallarico’s claim, as reported: the sound matches his 2000 Messiah sound, based on the file details GamesBeat described.
- Not established: any court judgment on ownership, the financial terms of the 2020 settlement, and the terms of the 2025 return.
What the current upload rules mean for creators
Roblox’s current audio-upload terms, published by Roblox Support, require creators to own or obtain and maintain the licenses needed for uploaded recordings, compositions, and sound effects. They also grant Roblox platform, distribution, promotional, and specified sublicensing rights. These are current policy terms. They do not show how the Oof sound was licensed in 2020, and they should not be read as proof of that license.
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- The easiest way to add Robux (Roblox’s digital currency) to your account. Use Robux to deck out your avatar and unlock additional perks in your favorite Roblox experiences.
- This is a digital gift card that can only be redeemed for Robux at Roblox.com/redeem. It cannot be redeemed in the Roblox mobile app or any video game console. Please allow up to 5 minutes for your balance to be updated after redeeming.
- Roblox Gift Cards can be redeemed worldwide, perfect for gifting to Roblox fans anywhere in the world.
- From now on, when you redeem a Roblox Gift Card, you get up to 25% more Robux. Perfect for gaming, creating, and exploring- more Robux means more possibilities!
- Every Roblox Gift Card grants a free virtual item upon redemption.
The Oof dispute shows where audio rights can fail. A few practical checks follow from it:
- Keep the purchase record and license for any stock or sound library, and confirm that it allows use in online games and redistribution on a platform.
- Keep the original source files and any creation records, since the dispute turned on which party could show ownership.
- Confirm the license covers the exact sound you upload, not only the library as a whole.
- Check the platform’s current audio terms before each upload, because terms can change.
This is general information, not legal advice. A creator with a specific rights question should consult a lawyer.
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- The easiest way to add Robux (Roblox’s digital currency) to your account. Use Robux to deck out your avatar and unlock additional perks in your favorite Roblox experiences.
- This is a digital gift card that can only be redeemed for Robux at Roblox.com/redeem. It cannot be redeemed in the Roblox mobile app or any video game console. Please allow up to 5 minutes for your balance to be updated after redeeming.
- Roblox Gift Cards can be redeemed worldwide, perfect for gifting to Roblox fans anywhere in the world.
- From now on, when you redeem a Roblox Gift Card, you get up to 25% more Robux. Perfect for gaming, creating, and exploring- more Robux means more possibilities!
- Every Roblox Gift Card grants a free virtual item upon redemption.
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