Easyfundraising wins copyright case against easyJet owner

A fundraising firm has won its legal battle with the owner of easyJet, which had tried to sue for infringement of its trademarks.

Easyfundraising, based in Lichfield, Staffordshire, said it hoped the judgement gave encouragement to other organisations being sued by easyGroup that they could win in court.

“Our decision to not back down against easyGroup’s ridiculous claims and tactics has been entirely vindicated,” chief executive James Moir said.

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder and owner of easyGroup, said he would appeal against the decision.

“We are disappointed with this decision which has a number of contradictions and will be appealing this judgement immediately,” he said.

He accused Easyfundraising of being falsely marketed as a charity – a claim the firm denies.

Mr Moir said the case had taken up months of management time at his company, which could have been spent helping charities and good causes.

He added: “Essentially, this was a trademark case over the use of the word ‘easy’ in our name, even though Easyfundraising has existed for nearly 20 years.”

He said his company had never claimed to be part of easyGroup as there would be no reputational benefit for it to do so.

“It is telling that easyGroup were not able to produce a single piece of evidence showing any customer confusion has ever existed,” he said.

He added that his company had also never claimed to be a charity.

The firm provides a cashback platform on which customers can donate part of the commission paid by companies when they shop online to the charity of their choice.

“This was very clearly understood and acknowledged by the Judge in his ruling,” Mr Moir said.

He said the judge, Mr Justice Fancourt, had ruled there had been no evidence that Easyfundraising obtained an unfair advantage from its use of the word “easy”.

Easyfundraising said it had raised more than £55m for charities and good causes since its formation in 2005.

Wednesday’s ruling meant Easyfundraising could focus on its core business without the distraction of a protracted and expensive legal battle, the firm said.

Sir Stelios said easyGroup would challenge the decision, as he believed such a course of action to be in the interest of UK consumers and charities.

“They are a highly profitable organisation,” he said.

Easyfundraising is the latest in a series of bodies which have faced challenges by the airline owner for using “easy” as part of their name.

Last month the owner of a jet wash firm in Stoke-on-Trent agreed to pay damages and change the brand name after easyGroup threatened legal action.

An indie band known as easy life also changed its name after a similar challenge.