Osbourne 'sues bandmate over group name'

Ozzy Osbourne is suing his Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi over an ownership dispute of the group's name, it has been reported.

Osbourne filed a lawsuit in a federal court in New York after learning that Iommi had patented sole rights to the name 'Black Sabbath' with the US Patent and Trademark Office, according to The New York Post.

Despite leaving the band between 1980 and 1996, the 60-year-old has allegedly claimed that he is responsible for their "extraordinary success" provided through his "signature lead vocals".

The singer also maintains that the band were not as successful during the fifteen-year period he was absent from the line-up.

According to the newspaper, Osbourne has demanded a 50 per cent interest in the 'Black Sabbath' trademark as well as a share of the profits Iommi has already garnered from the use of the name.