Universal Music Group (UMG) has reached a settlement in its trademark lawsuit against investment platform Republic and its associated blockchain platform Opulous. The lawsuit, which was filed in 2021, alleged that the use of the name “Republic” by the two platforms caused confusion among consumers, misleading them into believing there was an affiliation with UMG’s well-known sub-label, Republic Records.
According to a filing in the Southern District of New York, both parties informed the court on Friday that they had agreed to a settlement in principle. As part of the settlement, UMG has requested the dismissal of the case. Representatives from UMG, Republic, and Opulous did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.
UMG filed the original lawsuit after Republic announced a new service allowing users to invest in musicians’ songs and earn returns from streaming royalties. UMG argued that the name “Republic” used by the platform would cause confusion, potentially leading consumers to believe that the service was affiliated with Republic Records, home to some of the world’s most prominent artists, including Taylor Swift, Drake, and Stevie Wonder.
In 2022, UMG amended its complaint to include Opulous, a music-related blockchain platform, after the two companies formed a partnership. UMG maintained that the venture, which involved investments in music and royalties, was likely to mislead consumers due to its name similarity to Republic Records.
Republic and Opulous denied the allegations, and U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ruled in 2022 against UMG’s request for a preliminary injunction to stop the platforms from using the “Republic” name. Despite the initial setback, the parties have now come to an agreement to resolve the case outside of court.
Legal Representation
For UMG: David Donahue and Jason Jones of Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu
For OpenDeal (Republic): Brett Perala and John Rosenberg of Rosenberg Giger & Perala
For Opulous: Lance Koonce of Klaris Law
Case Reference: UMG Recordings Inc v. OpenDeal Inc d/b/a Republic, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No. 1:21-cv-09358
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