Easyboss, Edmonds Chip Over Strapline

London-based The Lawyer magazine reports that easy-magnate Stelios Haji-Ioannou , possessor of easyGroup and cut-price airline easyJet, has started a legal battle amongst veteran broadcaster too TV celebrity Noel Edmonds. Edmonds wants to role the strapline "easymeetings" to promote his videoconferencing companionship face2face too has applied to register EASYMEETINGS equally a merchandise mark, merely Stelios is opposing the application. Stelios doesn't ain either 'easy' or 'easymeetings' equally merchandise marks. But, says Bird & Bird IP partner Morag MacDonald, he could withal oppose Edmonds' application to register EASYMEETINGS.

Why accept Stelios too Edmonds fallen out too then spectacularly over the 'easy' name? Edmonds initially developed a videoconferencing line of piece of occupation organisation conception amongst a persuasion to getting Stelios involved. But, next a coming together betwixt the two, Stelios declined. Edmonds wants to retain the 'easymeetings' advert inward anticipation of easyGroup setting upwardly a challenger line of piece of occupation organisation using that name.

Edmonds alleges the easyGroup founder too suggested at the coming together that he was interested inward starting a like companionship on his own: “The coming together amongst Stelios lasted less than one-half an lx minutes too none of us actually got a discussion in. Stelios thought it was such a expert thought that he mightiness create it without us". John Rothnie, easyGroup caput of corporate communications, agreed that easyGroup mightiness desire to prepare a videoconferencing line of piece of occupation organisation of its own. Says Rothnie: “He [Edmonds] came too saw us too asked if they could borrow our brand. Our reaction was, 'Why are you lot doing this? This is something nosotros could fix anyway'”. Neither side has yet instructed police describe firms, though Edmonds is reported equally having Olswang waiting inward the wings.

For Noel Edmonds’ alteration ego click here or here
Where tin mail away you lot wing on easyJet? Click here
For easyDisputes involving the easyGroup click here, here, here, here, here, here and here