NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Anthony Iommi, the lead guitarist for heavy metal icons Black Sabbath, has filed suit against Live Nation, alleging that a subsidiary of the promoter sold illegal merch featuring images of the band.
According to Bloomberg, the suit alleges that merch company Signature Networks, which Live Nation acquired for $79 million in 2007, continued to sell merchandise featuring the likeness of Iommi and the band's trademarked logo after a licensing agreement the band had with signature expired in 2006.
The suit alleges that Signature continued to sell more than 100 Black Sabbath-branded items even after Iommi sent a letter to the firm in April, instructing them to cease the unlicensed sales.
Iommi was one of the band's founders and has retained control over the band's trademarks as other original members took leave from the group. Iommi is seeking to put a halt to further merch sales and is requesting an award of damages, Bloomberg said.
Live Nation doesn’t comment about ongoing litigation, spokeswoman Liz Morentin told Bloomberg. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
