The latest case concerned the trademark “EasyJetwash” – a brand and the domain name EasyJetwash.com, owned by Spekker. EasyGroup opposed its registration, citing prior rights to the EASY and EASYJET trademarks.
EasyGroup accused Spekker of deliberately attempting to exploit the reputation of the well-known airline easyJet by registering EasyJetwash. According to the company, adding another word to the name of a well-known brand does not entitle one to benefit from its reputation. EasyGroup emphasized that, thanks to its knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO), Spekker ensured that its website ranked first in the organic search results for the phrase “Easy Jetwash” on Google. According to EasyGroup, this was evidence of an attempt to build its brand image based on the popularity of easyJet.
Interestingly, the matter did not follow the official procedure. It is not entirely clear whether EasyGroup took formal legal action, but it is known that the parties reached an agreement without the need for court proceedings.
Understandably, given Mr. Spekker’s limited financial resources and his reluctance to engage in a potentially costly dispute with a large company, they decided to settle. As a result of the agreement, Spekker relinquished the trademark and domain registration and also changed the brand name. In addition, he agreed to pay compensation and cover legal costs. EasyGroup, in turn, agreed to an 18-month transition period, which allowed Spekker to gradually phase out his brand.
Although the EasyJetwash logo differs from the easyJet logo, and the words “easy” and “jetwash” have clear and distinct meanings, some might argue that EasyGroup has overstepped the bounds of its rights in this case.
However, when it comes to a domain name, which is displayed in plain text, the differences in the logo become less noticeable until the user visits the website. Furthermore, EasyGroup has a wide range of brands with the “Easy” prefix (e.g., easyBus, easyJet, and easyHotel) in various industries, which means that the company claims a significant reputation and goodwill associated with that word, particularly in the United Kingdom.
The EasyGroup versus EasyJetwash case demonstrates how complex and challenging trademark disputes can be. Although, at first glance, it may seem that two different industries should not have a conflict, internationally renowned brands like easyJet have the right to protect their identity and reputation.
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