As we reported yesterday, a court date has been set for the longstanding lawsuit against the Osbournes from his former bandmates who are seeking royalties for their work on Ozzy’s first two solo albums (see story). Now the Osbournes are faced with the second lawsuit directly attributed to their hit MTV series. 

Last month in Los Angeles, the first lawsuit was filed by a company or individual claiming to have come up with the idea of  “the Osbournes” and worked out a deal with the family to develop the show. That suit was filed by television producer Gary Binkow who claims to have worked with the Osbournes as far back as 1999 on developing a series based on their day to day lives and even claims to have his original treatment of the proposed series from January 2000, registered with the Writers Guild of America.

Binkow is suing the Osbournes for unspecified damages for breach of contract and fraud.

This new lawsuit was filed by Threshold TV, Inc; the company that incidentally publishes the Ozzfest and Ozzy Osbourne websites.  

The Threshold lawsuit was filed against not only the Osbournes but also MTV, Viacom (MTV’s parent company), Sony Pictures, Sony Music (Ozzy’s record label), Sony Signatures Network, and Monowise for breach of contract, unfair competition, and intentional and negligent interference with contractual relations and prospective economic advantage. 

Threshold is looking to have the court declare them the rightful owners of the series, which would include all of the associated rights that go along with it, including merchandising, print media rights, licensing etc).

For a little background on Osbourne’s dealings with Threshold here is a news item we ran back in January of 2001 when they apparently entered into a deal with the Osbournes to develop a sitcom based on the real life of Ozzy and his family. 

TheThreshold.com are hoping to launch a new sitcom based on the life of Ozzy Osbourne. The website has been hired to produce Ozzy’s websites and is also working on plans to develop a new sitcom based around the legendary metal vocalist, tentatively titled, “Ozzy and Harriet.” 

Unlike the 50’s “Ozzie and Harriet” focused around the family life of Ozzie Nelson, the new show will chronicle the exploits of the infamous bat biting metal madman, Ozzy Osbourne. 

Chairman and CEO of Threshold Entertainment, Larry Kasanoff, spoke with the Hollywood Reporter last week about his company’s plans for developing a website focused on the life of Ozzy Osbourne that they hope will lead to a television sitcom. 

"He's a wild, crazy, mega-successful rock star who lives in Beverly Hills with his smart, attractive wife and three normal children next door to Pat Boone.” Kasanoff told the entertainment publication, “His personal lifestyle is so engaging and enduring -- and as funny as hell. The dichotomy is hysterical."

Sharon Osbourne, the singer’s wife who also leads the double life of shrewd businesswomen and manager for her star husband told the Hollywood reporter that they decided on Threshold Entertainment because, “They have the talent, perspective and foresight that will establish Ozzy in a new light in the ever-changing world of online entertainment." 

The Osbourne camp spoke last year about a possible movie based on Ozzy’s life, but there has been no additional word on the progress of that project since the announcement. 

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