The Prince of Darkness and the power of intellectual property

Law360 Canada (August 20, 2025, 12:11 PM EDT) --

Erin McEwen

Some people leave behind a legacy. Ozzy Osbourne left behind a brand manual.

In our house, the news of his passing landed like a silence we could not shake. We sat surrounded by a mountain of T-shirts that no one is ready to part with. Please do not ask how many. We stopped counting long ago.

We did not just like Ozzy. We adored him. He lived on our playlists. He came up in our dinner table conversations. He became part of our family’s story the year our daughter turned 13 and we surprised her with a Cameo from Jack Osbourne. (Happy to share it if you would ever like to see Jack cheering her on for heading to a “pub” to celebrate.) That moment still holds the title for best birthday surprise. Just this week, she quietly whispered “rest in peace” when someone mentioned his name. Not for show. Not with theatrics. Just softly. Like a prayer.

When Ozzy passed, we did what any devastated, rock-loving family would do. We sat in silence. No dramatic sobbing, just a heavy stillness that settled over the house. It felt surreal, as though the world had shifted but forgotten to make a sound. On date night, we tried listening to No More Tears in the car, thinking it might be cathartic. It was not. My husband went quiet, stared out the window, and eventually asked if we could turn it off. He did not cry. He just looked uncomfortable, as though he wished he could process it better. The mood vanished.

I waited before posting anything. I assumed LinkedIn would be saturated with tributes from brand strategists and IP lawyers. It was not. The Prince of Darkness deserved better. So here I am. A little late, but definitely not quiet.

Ozzy’s music is iconic. His antics are legendary. But from a trademark perspective, the real stroke of genius is the brand empire built under Monowise Ltd., the company that holds rights to his intellectual property in the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Trademarks protect identity. They tell fans the merchandise is real. They keep opportunistic sellers from pushing bootleg goods. Ozzy’s team understood this. The business side of creativity was handled with reverence and precision. And if I had to bet on who kept that train running (see what I did there!?) with precision, my money is on Sharon. She knew how to run both a show and a registry.

Oddly, Canada seems to have been left out. I could not locate any active Canadian filings for Ozzy Osbourne trademarks. As a Canadian with enough merch to open a boutique, I find the absence surprising. We are loyal. We are fans. We are ready whenever the estate decides to extend protection northward.

At home, grief still lingers. Our daughter cannot mention his name without sighing. My husband keeps his commemorative tees folded like museum artifacts. I cannot listen to Dreamer without reaching for tissues. The man mattered. No candles were lit, but the dim energy in our house could have fooled you.

What brings comfort is knowing his name and music are protected. This is not just nostalgia. It is intellectual property preserved with care. His legacy is built to last. Whether through vinyl reissues, official merch or (I still hope) a bat wing hot sauce, his presence endures.

Here is to Ozzy. The man. The myth. The undisputed masterclass in brand control.

He showed us that chaos and control are not opposites. That you can scream into a mic and still file your trademarks on time. That you can be brilliantly unpredictable and still impeccably protected.

To Sharon, Jack, Kelly and the entire Osbourne family, we know you are still mourning. When the time feels right, we are here. Canadian fans with deep respect, strong legal instincts and an almost unreasonable amount of officially licensed apparel.

Rest in peace, Ozzy. We miss you more than words can say. Thank you for the music. Thank you for the madness. And thank you for teaching us how to rock a registry.

Erin McEwen is a Canadian trademark agent and intellectual property strategist with over 20 years of experience. As leader of the intellectual property practice group at Nelligan Law, McEwen is also an advocate for inclusive IP policy. She serves on INTA’s Indigenous Rights Committee, has contributed to global discussions on traditional knowledge, and was part of the legal coalition responding to Quebec’s Bill 96. Recognized in the 2025 World Intellectual Property Review Leader directory, she regularly speaks to students, entrepreneurs and business groups to demystify IP protection.

The opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s firm, its clients, Law360 Canada, LexisNexis Canada or any of its or their respective affiliates. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal advice.

Interested in writing for us? To learn more about how you can add your voice to Law360 Canada, contact Analysis Editor Peter Carter at peter.carter@lexisnexis.ca or call 647-776-6740.