Ozzy Osbourne Files Lawsuit Against Tony Iommi
Ozzy Osbourne has filed a lawsuit against Tony Iommi over the rights to the name Black Sabbath. It is now claimed that Iommi illegally took sole ownership of the band’s name in a filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Osbourne is suing Iommi for a 50 percent interest in the “Black Sabbath” trademark, along with a portion of Iommi’s profits from use of the name.
A statement released by Ozzy reads: “It is with great regret that I had to resort to legal action against my long term partner, Tony Iommi, but after three years of trying to resolve this issue amicably, I feel I have no other recourse.”
“As of the mid-1990’s, after constant and numerous changes in band members, the brand of “Black Sabbath” was literally in the toilet and Tony Iommi (touring under the name Black Sabbath) was reduced to performing in clubs. Since 1997 when Geezer, Bill and myself rejoined the band, Black Sabbath has returned to its former glory as we headlined sold-out arenas and amphitheatres playing to upwards of 50,000 people at each show around the world. We worked collectively to restore credibility and bring dignity back to the name “Black Sabbath” which lead to the band being inducted into the UK and US Rock & Roll Hall of Fames in 2005 and 2006, respectively.”
“Throughout the last 12 years, it was my management representatives who oversaw the marketing and quality control of the “Black Sabbath” brand through Ozzfest, touring, merchandising and album reissues. The name “Black Sabbath” now has a worldwide prestige and merchandising value that it would not have had by continuing on the road it was on prior to the 1997 reunion tour.”
“Tony, I am so sorry it’s had to get to this point by me having to take this action against you. I don’t have the right to speak for Geezer and Bill, but I feel that morally and ethically the trademark should be owned by the four of us equally. I hope that by me taking this first step that it will ultimately end up that way. We’ve all worked too hard and long in our careers to allow you to sell merchandise that features all our faces, old Black Sabbath album covers and band logos, and then you tell us that you own the copyright. We’re all in our 60’s now. The Black Sabbath legacy should live on long after we have all gone. Please do the right thing.”
There has so far been no word from the Iommi camp.
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I bet this was Sharon’s doing! I doubt Ozzy cares that much…
Ozzy Osbourne hasn’t been talking to Axl Rose has he?
Headline made me think it was a cash-grab by the famously needy Sharon (ahem) but, if Bill Ward and Geezer Butler (the most under-rated man in metal) are set to benefit, then good on the Oz camp.
Omerta : Are they? “Osbourne is suing Iommi for a 50 percent interest in the “Black Sabbath” trademark.”
Well I do think he has a point that he deserves some part of ownership (although how much he contributed to the band in terms of song writing is debatable), his statement contradicts himself. He tries to make himself out as the good guy, saying sorry its come to this (has he tried talking it over?) and says they deserve an equal split between the four founding members yet sues for 50% ownership. And what about Dio, he was with them a long time – does he deserve nothing?
what a twat
First, let’s admit to ourselves that we don’t care what Black Sabbath is up to unless Ozzy’s with them. Not really. He is the star. Any success they’ve had without him has been on the coattails of the “classic lineup’s” fame. Why do you think people still go see the Doors play, but they haven’t released a new record? Because they know that nobody cares about their new music…It’s a nostalgia thing. It’s not made clear here what the original arrangements were when Sabbath began making money back in the day, but I can only imagine it was a 4 way split deal. Why didn’t they officially end his participation of future profits when they kicked him out of the band years ago? They had to have lawyers by then. My point is….give Ozzy his share of the brand he helped create, because without him, not only would Tony most likely not be able to get away with a haircut like my Nan’s, but he would probably be missing a lot more fingers.
what a cock,as if he hasn’t made enough cash as of late,probably jealous that iommi is out-doing him musicly,and %50? what the fuck is that about,what about bill and geezer and maybe even dio should be entitled to a cut.
THATS SO UN-FUCKING METAL! NIETHER OF YOU NEED THAT MONEY TONY IS IN HEAVEN AND HELL NOW AND OZZY OSBOURNE IS IN OZZY OSBOURNE THERES PROBABLY NO CHANCE OF A REUNION NOW
“I don’t have the right to speak for Geezer and Bill, but I feel that morally and ethically the trademark should be owned by the four of us equally.” I AGREE, EQUALLY! BLACK SABBATH IS MORE THAN ANY OF ITS BAND MEMBERS. ITS SIGNIFICANCE IN THE METAL WORLD SHOULD LIVE ON FOREVER.
Nothing to do with the success of Heaven & Hell? Ozzy may be the ;Prince of Darkness’ but his credibility with his core fan base has diminished over the years, mainly due to his wife/manager’s continuous need to be in the spotlight and crave mainstream acceptance. Isn’t it telling that most of the people who watched The Osbournes/X Factor and any other tv shows with them in couldn’t even name three Ozzy Osbourne albums? No one outside of his metal fanbase really cares about what Ozzy means or represents to the history of music. As for Sabbath, yes Tony Iommi should have changed the band name a long time ago so the Sabbath brand wasn’t tarnished, but – and here’s the rub – he didn’t. He continued to trade under that name and released records and merchandise. I was made redundant recently, but I’m not going to sue my former employer for earnings that were made when I wasn’t there. If Ozzy wants to get some credibility back. he should make a brilliant original album with the original Sabbath line-up (without managers, lawyers, etc). As his (meaning hers) agenda won’t allow him to share glory with his former band mates, then he should stick to his solo efforts and Iommi should stick with the more professional Dio. You don’t see Rob Halford suing K,K, or Glenn for royalties made during the Ripper years.
Horseguts i’m slightly puzzled is Ozzy Osbourne a man within a man or is he just a man.
Detective27 – “First, let’s admit to ourselves that we don’t care what Black Sabbath is up to unless Ozzy’s with them. Not really. He is the star.”
Bullshit fella, Ozzy’s become a joke. Wether you like some of the stuff Tony was bringing out under the Sabbath name or not (I’m one of the minority that loved a lot of those albums) the fact is he was the only one who cared about Sabbath enough to keep the flag flying when Ozzy couldn’t give a shit about it. One of the first gigs I saw when arriving in England was Sabbath at the Manchester Apollo in 1994 (Cathedral was support) and they were awesome. Fuck all people there, though. When a whole new generation of bands started coming through that were citing Black Sabbath as a major influence the dollar signs must have light up in Sharon’s eyes. The time was right for the big reunion and she milked it for all she could. This isn’t about Ozzy being a greedy cunt, it’s his hag of a wife getting stroppy that Heaven & Hell are doing so well and she’s worried that Iommi will start touring it under the Sabbath name. Well, fair fucks to Tony!! He’s got more than enough right to do so if he wants. Dio’s contribution to the Black Sabbath legacy is just as valid as Ozzy’s, maybe even more so. Fuck off Sharon.
Sabbath needs Ozzy more than Ozzy needs Sabbath. This is a fact. If this werent the case, There’d be a new Sabath album with Dio on the shelves right now instead of a new Heaven and Hell record.
hi all!
new member here – so dissapointed to hear of this lawsuit i have started a petition to urge Ozzy to drop this lawsuit. Much as i still love the man, it just tarnishes everything IMO.
I have to side with Tony on this one, i have a lot of love for the non-Ozzy Sabbath incarnations.
Please please spread the word and add your name if you feel the same!
Thanks – Jamie
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/supportiommi/
This lawsuit has Sharon Osbourne’s hands all over it! She is a money-grubbing witch & is not going to be happy until Ozzy’s name & reputation are in the mud! You want to talk about unfair? What about cheating Bob Daisley out of royalties from the 1st 6 ozzy CD’s-he wrote almost ALL of the lyrics! And then, to wipe out Lee’s & Bob’s performances off the 1st 2 CD’s! Sharon, Your Father, Don Arden, would be proud of You-You’ve become as much of a greedy scumbag as he is!
IM WITH IOMMI. –IOMMI SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE THE NAME BLACK SABBATH ANY WAY HE WANTS. IOMMI IS THE LEADER OF BLACK SABBATH UNCONDITIONALLY, AND ALWAYS WILL BE== I WANT IOMMI TO WIN
MY Vote goes to Tony Iommi!!! He carried the banner longer than anybody. It’s his baby and always has been. And this does smell like the money grubbing witch Sharon’s doing. Be careful about how you use the word O**y because she might sue you for a nickel for using the stage name without permission. This has gotten pretty ridiculous though. If O**y get’s a share than Ronnie Dio, Ian Gillan, Tony Martin, Vinnie Appice, Bev Bevan, Bob Daisley, Glen Hughes, Eric Singer, Neil Murray, Laurence Cottle, as well as the family’s of Cozy Powell and Ray Gillen, and I’m sure there’s probably some more, should all get share’s too for there contributions to the band. But unlike Mr. and Mrs. Osbourne the rest don’t seem to be too concerned. This is probably just an anti Heaven and Hell conspiracy. Now don’t get me wrong…. I used to be a MEGA O**Y fan, but his escapades of the last decade and his money grubbing witch of a wife have diminished alot of my respect for him. Now I leave my faith with Heaven and Hell! and if Ozzy does go forth with the lawsuit…… I HOPE DIO SUES HIM FOR HIS SHARE!!!!!!
lets face facts concerning who the sabbath logo belongs to,its very simple,it belongs to all the four band members,bill ward one of the greatest drummers in the world,butler one of the greatest base players,iommi probrably the greatest ever rift/vibrato guitar player the world will ever see then ozzy probrably the greatest artist/maniac the world will ever see,none of these artists have never been as good since they split up and went their own ways but lets face facts they are all greedy fuckers.
All original members should have 25%, because if Iommy dies now, Black sabbath will die too (for 50 years)
so if Ozzy thinks the Sabbath name should be owned by all four original band members, why is he suing for 50% instead of 25%??