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Well yes of course but it loses many of its claims as the EasyGroup seeks to claim a monopoly on the term ‘EASY’ The brand owner behind well-known brands such as EasyJet, has recently lost a trademark dispute against the online fundraising platform Easyfundraising. The legal claim was initiated by EasyGroup, which claimed that the inclusion of “easy” in Easyfundraising’s name infringed upon several of its trademarks.
However, Easyfundraising, its founder Ian Woodroffe OBE, and its investors successfully argued that there was no likelihood of confusion between the two brands. The High Court, under Justice Fancourt, ruled in favour of the defendants, dismissing EasyGroup’s claims. The Judge noted that only a small minority of people would potentially associate the two brands, and confusion between them was unlikely.
The Judge concluded that those using Easyfundraising’s services, typically professionals and businesses, were unlikely to mistakenly believe there was any connection between Easyfundraising and EasyGroup’s portfolio of easy+ brands. Justice Fancourt noted that these users are knowledgeable and would be careful in their dealings, making it unlikely that they would associate the two.
Furthermore, EasyGroup manages over 200 ventures under the easy+ umbrella, including businesses such as easyJet, easyBus and many more. The company claimed that the launch of Easyfundraising in 2005, followed by easysearch in 2007, constituted trademark infringement. EasyGroup also expressed concerns that Easyfundraising’s had insufficient brand reputation which could likely damage the easy+ brands.
The Court, however, rejected these concerns. Justice Fancourt pointed to the respectable companies such as Marks & Spencer and John Lewis that have been advertising on Easyfundraising for years, showing that the platform did not have a damaged reputation but in fact strong reputation. Justice Fancourt further noted that even some EasyGroup affiliated brands, including EasyJet, had advertised on Easyfundraising between 2010 and 2022, generating over £1.25 million in sales.
Ultimately, the Court ruled that there was no similarity between the services provided by Easyfundraising and those offered by EasyGroup, resulting in the unsuccessful trademark infringement claims.
If you have any queries related to the above or an alternative matter, contact our expert team of solicitors throughtmr@trademarkroom.comOR alternatively give us a call on 02380000190.
By Ajay Pardesi, an LPC graduate at the University of Law
