Sony Music is suing former Ultra Records founder Patrick Moxey over trademark rights to the word 'Ultra' following a complex acquisition and licensing dispute.

Photo Credit: International Music Summit / CC by 3.0

The dispute stems from Sony Music's initial 50% acquisition of Ultra Records LLC in 2012, where Moxey continued running the company. The agreement stipulated that Ultra International Music Publishing could only use the word 'Ultra' under license from Ultra Records.

Following Sony Music's complete buyout of Ultra Records, they terminated this license agreement on March 29, 2022. However, Ultra International Music Publishing has continued using the 'Ultra' name, which Sony Music claims violates their trademark rights under U.S. and New York law.

Key points of the lawsuit:

• No formal written license agreement existed between Ultra Records and Ultra International Music Publishing
• The quality control of UIMP's services was previously managed through Moxey's dual role
• Moxey left Ultra Records in January 2022, shortly after Sony's full acquisition
• The 2012 license agreement had no specified end date, making it terminable at will under New York law

Moxey disputes the existence of the license agreement and maintains his right to use the term 'Ultra' in connection with his music publishing business. He has since entered a global publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music.

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