A band claims that they are being compelled to alter their name due to legal action initiated by the owners of easyJet. Easy life, a band based in Leicester, has disclosed that they are facing a lawsuit from easyGroup, the parent company of easyJet, on the grounds that their name is too similar to the airline’s. The band asserts that they have never adversely affected the airline’s business and expresses certainty about this. On the other hand, easyGroup argues that it would be unjust to permit the band to use the “easy” brand name without making royalty payments.
Easy life conveyed this information through a social media statement, emphasizing the alleged similarity of their name to the corporation. The band acknowledges the humor in the situation but acknowledges their limited ability to challenge a corporate giant. In their High Court claim, easyGroup contends that the band promoted their “Life’s a beach” tour in 2021 and 2022 using a poster featuring a plane resembling easyJet’s orange livery but with their own name instead of the airline’s. The company also claims that the band produced T-shirts with their name in a style resembling the firm’s branding and that their website infringes on easyJet’s trademark due to its resemblance.
The legal document argues that the band benefits from an association with the claimant (easyGroup) and leverages its positive reputation and extensive brand recognition, whether the association was intended to be provocative or humorous. easyGroup asserts that the band is capitalizing on the valuable reputation of its brand, although it cannot currently estimate the financial value of the claim, it anticipates it will be substantial. Other companies, such as the UK’s major catalogue retailer known as Easylife, have paid for the use of the easy brand name.
A spokesperson for easyGroup emphasizes that Stelios Haji-Ioannou and easyGroup have founded and possess the rights to the easy brand name. They argue that other companies, including Easylife (the catalogue company), pay annual royalties for its usage as part of their business approach and that allowing others to use it without compensation would be unjust. Trademark specialist Leanne Hall notes that easyGroup has a history of taking actions to protect its brand, having invested significant effort in building up the reputation of the word “easy.” She acknowledges that this legal dispute resembles a David vs. Goliath scenario but highlights the reputation of easyGroup in association with the term “easy.”
This is not the first time that easyGroup has taken legal action over the use of the “easy” brand. In 2008, a restaurant in Northampton changed its name from easyCurry to avoid legal action, and in 2018, easyGroup took legal action against Netflix, asserting that its comedy series “Easy” violated European trademarks.
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