OZZY OSBOURNE is suing a Black Sabbath bandmate over a row about the ownership of the band's name.
Osbourne believes that Tommy Iommi has wrongfully claimed the sole rights to the band's name and has subsequently profited from royalties and merchandise sales.
He is suing him for damages over the alleged unpaid royalties and also wants to be instated as the co-owner of the Black Sabbath name.
Iommi, who trademarked 'Black Sabbath' in 2000, claimed that Osbourne gave up his rights to the name in the 1980s.
Osbourne issued an apologetic statement this weekend to lommi, that read: "Tony, I am so sorry it's had to get to this point by me having to take this action against you.
"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."
The 60-year-old continued he hoped all four members of the band would have the same rights to the name.