EasyGroup Loses Trademark Case Against Easyfundraising

EasyJet's parent company, EasyGroup, has lost a trademark dispute against charity shopping website Easyfundraising, with a High Court ruling dismissing EasyGroup's claims of infringement. The court found insufficient evidence to suggest that consumers would confuse the two brands, stating that users of Easyfundraising's services are sophisticated professionals unlikely to associate it with EasyGroup. Mr. Justice Fancourt's 81-page ruling concluded that there was no identity or similarity of services between Easyfundraising and EasyGroup's offerings, which include over 200 'easy+' branded ventures. EasyGroup's claims dated back to 2005 and 2007 when Easyfundraising and its easysearch brand were launched, but the court determined these allegations did not hold. The judge also addressed EasyGroup's concerns regarding the charity website's reputation potentially harming its brand image. This ruling follows EasyGroup's previous legal battles, including a name change for a British band due to trademark issues.