Universal Music Group (UMG) has reached a settlement with OpenDeal's investment platform Republic in their trademark dispute after more than three years of litigation.

The conflict began when OpenDeal's Republic platform expanded into music NFTs in October 2021, launching projects with artists like Lil Pump and KSHMR. UMG, parent company of Republic Records, demanded the platform stop using the "REPUBLIC" name for music-related services.

The settlement was reached during an in-person conference on December 11th, 2024. While specific terms remain private, the judge dismissed the case without prejudice, allowing it to be reopened within 60 days if the settlement terms aren't met.

Key points about the resolution:

• Republic's music investments page remains active, though at a different web address
• The platform has switched from a .co to .com domain
• Neither party has disclosed the settlement terms

Universal Music continues to face other legal challenges, including:

• A $200 million royalty lawsuit from Limp Bizkit and others, which UMG has dismissed as "fiction"
• A copyright infringement case against TuneCore and Believe over unauthorized altered versions of protected recordings

The settlement marks the end of a significant trademark dispute in the music industry, highlighting the ongoing challenges of brand protection in the digital age.

Related Articles

Previous Articles