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easyGroup was founded in 1998 by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, since then it has launched several brand extensions, most notably easyJet in 1995. The brand has developed a strong reputation over the years and have sued other companies for infringing its ‘easy’ trade mark. The easyGroup website has a specific section titled ‘brand thieves’, which lists their previous international legal battles to protect the company’s intellectual property rights.
easyGroup v easy life
Easy life was required to change their band name as easyGroup stated legal proceedings against the band for an infringement on their trade mark.
The claim was heard in the High Court where easyGroup said that the band had promoted their beach tour in 2021 and 2022 with a poster showing a plane in the style of easyJet’s orange livery but substituting the airline’s name with its own. The company also said that the band produced T-shirts which had an infringing branding style, and their website infringed its trade mark with its similarity to easyJet branding.
Therefore, the band was riding on the coat tails of the easyGroup reputation, specifically the easyJet branding in order to enhance their own reputation.
easyGroup stated that it would be unfair for the band to use the ‘easy’ brand name without any royalty payments to easyGroup.
easyGroup v easyfundraising
easyGroup told a fundraising group named ‘easyfundraising’ that they will take legal action against them in 2024.
easyfundraising, launched in 2005, as a shopping platform which works with more than 7,000 brands who donate part of what shoppers spend through them to a charity of their choice, without additional cost to the customer.
EasyGroup said other companies including one of the UK’s largest catalogue retailers, also called ‘Easy life’ paid easyGroup for the use of its brand name. This shows that there is an expectation from easyGroup that if you want to have a brand with the word ‘easy’ then you should pay some form of royalty to easyGroup.
The CEO of easyfundraising Mr Moir said it was “disappointing” that Easy Life felt forced to change their name but said easyfundraising. intended to fight its case as they believe that they have not infringed on the easyGroup brand.
EasyGroup are very keen on protecting their ‘easy’ trade mark and will enter into a legal dispute with anyone who is threatening the ‘easy’ trade mark or riding on the coat tails of the easyGroup reputation. It will be interesting to see if easyfundraising can be one of the few companies that can fight off easyGroup in a trade mark infringement dispute.
If you have any queries regarding trade marks or an alternative matter, you can contact us today.
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