easyGroup, owned by Stelios Haji-Lannou - the founder of the easyjet low cost airline, has decided to give up its long standing trademark registration dispute against Nottingham based web content management provider, EIBS.

 

One of EIBS' main software products is called EasySite (Content Management System) and the company started the process of registering this name in 2002.

 

easyGroup filed a complaint against EIBS when they saw the proposed registration

of 'EasySite'.

 

Stelios's strategy is to buy as many marks as possible starting with the word 'Easy' and they are continually objecting to new registrations. They already have registered trademarks for easyJet, easyTrak, easyWeb, easyBus, easyEverything and easyLife, their argument being that anything with the prefix 'Easy' is assumed to be part of the easyGroup.

 

On handling such a significant victory, David Bolton, Sales & Marketing Director at EIBS commented: "Usually when a company as big as easyGroup raises an objection to a trade mark the smaller company would abandon the claim, thinking they stand no chance of winning, So we're delighted that they have backed down: not only is it a great win for EIBS but also for brands and brand-name protection in general - it really feels like David beat Goliath in this instance!"

 

After a two and a half year battle, easyGroup settled before the matter went to court, but the encounter still cost EIBS over £5,000.