A UK fundraising platform is facing a battle in court over its name.

EasyGroup, who owns EasyJet and a number of ‘easy’ brands is suing easyfundraising for trademark infringement.

It is also suing a number of other entities, including a band named easylife.

On X (formerly Twitter) the fundraising organisation said that the group’s choice to pursue legal action has caused “uncertainty, distraction & stress."

However, easyGroup’s choice to pursue legal action against us for being called easyfundraising has caused uncertainty, distraction, & stress…

All of which inhibits us from doing what we do best - helping causes to raise much needed funds, especially in a cost of living crisis.

— easyfundraising (@easyuk) October 3, 2023

It added that it stands in solidarity with the band and others who have had challenges posed to them by the group.

A spokesman for easyfundraising said to Charity Times: “easyfundraising is a highly reputable and ethical company which has helped many thousands of community groups and small charities raise more than £45m over the last 17 years. We do not believe that the business has infringed easyGroup’s brand.

“The UK IPO (the UK trademark office) granted easyfundraising a registered trademark for the plain words ‘easyfundraising’ as a result of substantial evidence submitted on our behalf showing how distinctive our trademark is in the eyes of the UK consumer.

“We do not accept that these opportunistic allegations have any prospect of success and will vigorously defend our position in court.”

The trademark for easyfundraising was granted in 2012, for business services, marketing and advertising services.

For easyGroup to be successful, they would have to prove that the average consumer would be confused by easyfundraising’s use of the “easy” names into believing that there was a connection between easyfundraising and EasyGroup.

In a statement to Charity Times, a spokesperson for easyGroup said: “Stelios and easyGroup founded and (now) own the right to the ‘easy’ brand name.

“Other companies pay annual royalties for its use as part of their business strategy. We cannot allow unauthorised third parties to simply use it free, gratis and for nothing. That would be very unfair.”

The Easygroup, which was set up in 1998 by Sir Stelios, has previously taken legal action against a number of companies over the use of the "easy" brand. It has a section of its website entitled "brand thieves", which includes details of its legal battles over the name.

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