Patrick Moxey's Ultra Music Publishing must undergo a mandatory name change within six months following a federal judge's ruling over trademark breach of Sony Music's 'Ultra' brand.

The ruling stems from a 2022 lawsuit filed by Sony Music after Moxey sold his remaining stake in Ultra Records to Sony in 2021. While Moxey founded Ultra Records in 1995 and Ultra Music Publishing in 2004, the court determined he no longer retained rights to the "Ultra" trademark following the sale.

Key points from the ruling:

• The jury found the Ultra trademark to be distinctive
• Ultra Music Publishing's continued use of the name was deemed misleading
• The usage was found to dilute Ultra Records' trademark
• No customer confusion was found, resulting in no damages awarded to Sony

The legal conflict continues as Moxey's companies (Ultra International Music Publishing and Ultra Music Publishing Europe) have filed a countersuit against Sony Music Entertainment and its subsidiaries. This separate case alleges copyright infringement, claiming Sony used Ultra Publishing's compositions without proper licensing. Sony has responded by requesting the lawsuit's dismissal, characterizing it as retaliation for the trademark dispute.

This trademark ruling marks a significant shift in the music industry's publishing landscape, forcing one of the sector's notable players to undergo complete rebranding within the next six months.

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