Ozzy Osbourne: Sued former Black Sabbath band mate

Ozzy Osbourne: Sued former Black Sabbath band mate

Ozzy Osbourne has alleged former Black Sabbath band mate Tony Iommi of taking over the heavy metal titans' name and costing him royalties from merchandise sales.

Sources have thrown light on the news of Ozzy Osbourne. Osbourne, who sued the guitarist earlier this week,brought out a statement on Friday by imploring him to "do the right thing."

"Tony, I am so sorry it's had to get to this point by me having to take this action against you," added the singer-turned-reality show star Ozzy.

He further said, "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."

Osbourne, who resides in California, filed suit on Tuesday in a federal court in New York by saying that  Iommi falsely claimed to have sole rights to Black Sabbath's trademark in negotiations over the last year with a company that sells the band's merchandise. Thus according to the lawsuit Osbourne has lost royalties formerly split 50/50.

The lawsuit sought unspecified damages, lost profits and a declaration that Osbourne is a half-owner of the trademark.

None of the representatives of Iommi did not  immediately respond to telephone and e-mail messages late Friday.

The lawsuit of Osbourne reads at times like liner notes to a greatest-hits album, thereby describing the case as "a dispute concerning one of the most famous and valuable names in the history of rock and roll."

The band, known for its apocalyptic bent and such hits as "Iron Man" and "Paranoid," has sold over one hundred million albums through out the world and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Osbourne's lawsuit reads "To fans of heavy metal music,"  "Ozzy has become synonymous with Black Sabbath."

However Iommi, who regarded one of heavy metal's guitar greats, noted in a separate lawsuit that was filed against the merchandise firm in the month of December that he has been the only constant member in the English band's 41-year history. Court records show that the lawsuit, which did not involve Osbourne, was settled on Wednesday on undisclosed terms.

Iommi, who registered the Black Sabbath trademark in the U.S. in 2000, also said in the lawsuit that co-founders Osbourne, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward legally relinquished rights to the band's name during 1980s.

The lawyer of Osbourne disputed that in a January letter included with his lawsuit by saying that even if the singer did make such an agreement he took a major role in the band's direction and success after rejoining it in 1997.

Osbourne, who currently has appeared as the paterfamilias of an erratic clan on MTV's "The Osbournes," added  in Friday's statement that he believed all four original members should share Black Sabbath's name equally.

He also added, "I hope that by me taking this first step that it will ultimately end up that way."