A father who runs a driveway cleaning business called ‘EasyJetwash’ has been ordered to pay ‘significant damages’ to the billionaire founder of easyJet following a trademark row.
Jozsef Spekker, 43, based in Newcastle-Under-Lyne in Staffordshire, found himself in hot water with easyJet boss Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou over the name of his pressure washing service.
Mr Spekker had run his one-man business for three years – charging around £100 to clean people’s drives, patios, garden paths and conservatories across Staffordshire.
But Sir Stelios, who is worth $1.2billion USD according to Forbes, wrote to Mr Spekker in June ordering him to rebrand his company or face a costly legal battle.
Today easyGroup confirmed Mr Spekker has agreed to pay ‘significant damages’ and legal costs – as well as change his brand name.
Chairman Sir Stelios confirmed he had granted Mr Spekker a ‘generous’ 18-month phasing-out period during which time he will ‘educate his customers’ about the new name for the business – Stokejetwash.
Although Mr Spekker could not divulge how much he has to pay, he said: ‘We have come to an agreement and it has avoided going to court so I’m just trying to focus on the positives.
‘I have to start again but at least I have 18 months to rebrand and I suppose it could have been worse because fighting a big company in court would not have been easy.
‘I’m not allowed to say how much I’ve had to pay. I’m just trying to move on now and put it all behind me.’
Mr Spekker was threatened with legal action by easyGroup after he originally registered the trademark in April 2022.
The Hungarian national said previously: ‘They explained how my branding was very harmful for their business.
‘They wanted me to take all the branding off Facebook and social media, and close it down.
‘I try and keep it obvious that we are nothing to do with easyJet. I look very, very different.
‘My business is extremely different from anything that easyGroup offer for their customers.
‘All the business I do, they don’t offer, which is why my trademark was accepted. They didn’t challenge my trademark.
‘When I registered as a trademark and got accepted I was 100 per cent sure I have every right over my business which is my only income.
‘I am totally scared. Who am I compared to a multi-billion pound corporation?
‘I can’t fight them in the court.’
Sir Stelios, creator and owner of the easyGroup including easyJet said: ‘I believe this is a good outcome for both sides and the rule of law was upheld, and the consumer was protected from confusion.
‘In return for Mr Spekker agreeing to pay damages and legal costs to us we have agreed to generously give Mr Spekker a phasing out period of 18 months to educate his customers about his new name.
‘Mr Spekker deliberately set out to profit from the reputation of easyJet, the world famous airline, by using the exact word in his domain.
‘Adding another word after a famous brand does not allow you to take advantage of the good will associated with that brand.
‘What’s also very telling of his intentions is that Mr Spekker used his expert knowledge of Search Engine Optimisation to have his website be the first organic result in a Google search of the words “Easy Jetwash” ahead of the airline.
‘I am glad in the end he realised that this is not lawful, and he agreed to stop.’
This is not the first time easyGroup has been involved in a heated trademark row.
Controversial indie band Easy Life was also accused of ripping of the company’s name.
The airline said the band’s t-shirts and branding were similar to that of the company.
A tour poster even featured an orange and white aircraft with the logo Easy Life on the jet’s tail plane.
The airline also complained about the band’s lyrics which they said could affect their company’s reputation because of the use of foul language on several tracks.
Following the battle with the firm, the band have rebranded themselves on Spotify as Hard Life.
The company easyGroup is fiercely protective of the brand, regularly going after other companies that use the word ‘easy’ in their names.
It claims to set aside £4million each year in order to take action against what it calls ‘brand thieves’.
Commenting at the time, the firm said: ‘easyGroup Ltd has reached resolution with Mr Matravers and the other band members of Easy Life. The band has already announced that it will be changing its name and it will pass all of its rights in the EASY LIFE name, along with the easylifemusic domain name, to easyGroup Ltd.’