In a recent legal development, the owner of LCC easyJet, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, has initiated legal action against a Leicester-based band known as Easy Life, accusing them of engaging in what they deem as “brand theft.”
EasyGroup, the parent company behind easyJet, has a well-established track record of pursuing legal recourse against individuals and entities that they believe are capitalizing on variations of their brand names.
EasyGroup uneasy
In this particular case, EasyGroup claims that Easy Life has infringed upon the rights of the online retailer Easylife, which licenses its name from EasyGroup for an annual fee. It is worth noting that EasyGroup does not hold any financial stake in the Easylife business.
Easy Life, an alternative indie pop band formed in 2017 by frontman Murray Matravers and consisting of five members, has taken to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) to defend themselves against these allegations.
The band said on X that they had “worked hard to establish our brand” and “in no way have we ever affected their business”.
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Easylife expressed surprise at the legal action being taken against them, stating that they find the entire situation rather “hilarious”.
However, they also acknowledge their limited resources and the daunting prospect of engaging in a costly legal battle against a corporate giant like EasyGroup.
The band noted: “They’re (Easygroup) are forcing us to change our name or take up a costly legal battle which we could never afford. Although we find the whole situation hilarious, we are virtually powerless against such a massive corporation.”
“easyTheft”
A spokesperson for EasyGroup has responded to the band’s statements, emphasizing their commitment to protecting their brand and intellectual property. The spokesperson asserts that:
“We (EasyGroup) have a long-established record of legally stopping thieves from using our brands and I am confident we will stop Mr Matravers.”
They specifically refer to Murray Matravers and his fellow band members as “brand thieves” and reiterate their intention to take the necessary legal steps to address the matter.
This clash between EasyGroup and Easy Life highlights the challenges that arise when it comes to brand ownership and protection.
As this legal battle unfolds, it remains to be seen how Easy Life will navigate the situation and whether they will ultimately choose to change their name or face the financial burden of a legal confrontation with EasyGroup.
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