# easyJet parent company loses copyright infringement case against easyfundraising

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/09/12/easyjet-parent-company-loses-copyright-infringement-case-against-easyfundraising/
- Published: 2024-09-12T09:48:42+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**easyGroup, the parent company of easyJet, has lost a copyright infringement case
against easyfundraising, after a High Court judge ruled in easyfundraising’s favour.**

easyGroup had taken legal action, claiming that [easyfundraising](https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/)
had infringed easyGroup’s trademarks. However, after a two year legal battle, Judge
Mr Justice Fancourt ruled yesterday (11 September) that:

_“Given my findings that there is no infringement of the Claimant’s marks by the
Defendants nor any passing off, this part of the Claimant’s claim necessarily falls
to be dismissed.”_

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It was also said that _“there is no evidence of any confusion on the part of any
supporter around the time 2005-2007 (or indeed subsequently), despite extensive 
searches for such documents.”_

Mr Justice Fancourt ruled that _“there is no evidence that easyfundraising obtained
any unfair advantage in the establishment of its business as a result of its use
of the word “easy”.”_

According to [a story on the ruling in The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/sep/11/easyjet-parent-company-loses-trademark-dispute-with-charity-shopping-website?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other),
easyGroup also alleged that its brands would be negatively impacted by what it said
was the poor reputation of easyfundraising. However, the judge said that the large
number of well-known brands that advertise with easyfundraising and had done for
years showed that they didn’t feel it was disreputable, and pointed out that many
of the easyGroup licences including easyJet had themselves advertised on the site,
generating around £1.25mn of sales.  

Welcoming the ruling, easyfundraising Chief Executive James Moir said:

> “Our decision to not back down against easyGroup’s ridiculous claims and tactics
> has been entirely vindicated. This whole case has taken up so many months of management
> and business time that could have been far better spent on our core business of
> helping charities and good causes raise as much money as possible. We hope that
> this judgement gives heart to others being sued by easyGroup that they can see
> them in court – and win.”

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. We have never
> claimed to be part of easyGroup – there would be no reason or reputational benefit
> for us to do this. It is telling that easyGroup were not able to produce a single
> piece of evidence showing any customer confusion has ever existed.
>  
> “We have never said we are a charity. We are a technology-for-good company that
> is benefiting charities and good causes throughout the UK to raise critical funds.
> This was very clearly understood and acknowledged by the Judge in his ruling. 
> We are delighted that the ruling is so conclusive and that we can now get on with
> helping those that really need our time and focus.”

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