Universal Music Group (UMG), the owner of Republic Records, has settled a trademark lawsuit against a music investment platform, Republic, over potential consumer confusion. UMG filed the lawsuit after the smaller company, OpenDeal Inc., began offering music royalty investments via NFTs (non-fungible tokens) in 2021. UMG, which acquired Republic Records in 2000, argued that the platform’s use of the name “Republic” could mislead consumers into thinking it was affiliated with the label. The label claimed that both companies were operating in the same industry, leading to inevitable confusion.

However, a federal judge ruled in July 2022 that UMG’s case was unlikely to succeed. Judge Analisa Torres noted that while there could be some overlap between the platforms’ audiences, the services and target consumers were distinct enough to make confusion unlikely. She also emphasised that the connection to the music industry alone wasn’t enough to justify UMG’s claims.

After the ruling, UMG amended its complaint, and the case proceeded to the discovery phase, but settlement talks took priority. On December 13, 2024, the judge confirmed that the dispute had been “settled in principle” and dismissed the case. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, and neither party has provided further details. UMG owns Republic Records, home to major artists like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Drake.