In a move that speaks to his lifelong dual role as both a rock and roll wildman and a savvy businessman, it has been revealed that Ozzy Osbourne took steps to trademark his iconic “Prince of Darkness” moniker in the final days before his death on July 22, ensuring his family would control his enduring legacy.
The new report, according to The Sun, indicates that applications were filed in both the United States and the United Kingdom to secure the famous nickname. The filings were reportedly intended to cover the use of the name on a wide range of merchandise, including clothing, video games, and accessories, as well as for “entertainment services, namely providing non-downloadable pre-recorded music via a website.” While the US application is still pending, a similar trademark was reportedly granted in the UK in the past.
This forward-thinking approach to legacy is not new for Osbourne and his circle. The report also highlights a separate trademark filed by Black Sabbath nearly two decades ago. That filing secured rights for the “production and presentation of animation and other special effects,” a move that could potentially allow for the creation of a hologram or virtual reality show in the future, similar to the massively successful ABBA Voyage production in London.
These business revelations emerge in the wake of Osbourne‘s passing at the age of 76 and the subsequent public and private farewells. Last week, thousands of fans lined the streets of his hometown for a public funeral procession through Birmingham, where an emotional Sharon Osbourne and her children paid their respects at a massive fan-made shrine on the Black Sabbath Bridge. The following day, he was laid to rest in a private ceremony attended by rock royalty in the gardens of his beloved Buckinghamshire estate.
The family has been deeply moved by the global outpouring of support. In her first full statement since her father’s passing, Kelly Osbourne thanked fans for helping her “through the hardest moment of my life.”
“Grief is a strange thing – it sneaks up on you in waves – I will not be ok for a while – but knowing my family are not alone in our pain makes a difference,” she wrote. “I’m holding on tight to the love, the light, and the legacy left behind.”
The final business dealings of the “Prince of Darkness” paint a clear picture of a man who was deeply aware of his own mortality and his monumental place in cultural history. He worked until the very end to ensure that the iconic brand he built over 50 years would be protected and preserved for the family he loved.
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