Domain name issues with Easy Group

racerace1 · 11-10-2011, 02:30:19 PM

Intellectual Property Infringement

I have Sir Stelios of Easy Jet fame and his group of solicitors, claiming copywrite infringement, literary infringement, intellectual property infringement and so on and to this extent demanding handing over of our company domains and cessation of trading with threats of injunctions, damages, costs, etc, against ourselves for the continued use of our company domain Easygulet.com and Easygulet.co.uk

Despite the designs of Easygulet.com and EasyGulet.co.uk, its marketing and content, which bears no correlation or shares by way of any mark or services offered online, by way of its logos, colour scheme, or any such inference to that of the easy group plc; That may also suggest its operations in anyway bear reference too is supported by, or is part of the easy group plc and any of its registered product offerings/brand names and thus unlikely to cause by way of confusion to the consumers of the United Kingdom and Globally.

To this extent the easy group’s lawyers have written a number of times to us over a period of 7 months with continued threats of legal action unless we relinquish our web domains to them along with signed undertakings.

We have never made any reply to their letters in the past and would like to know if we are duty bound by any statutory UK law or by the rules of

PRACTICE DIRECTION – PRE-ACTION CONDUCT to make reply in anyway to their claims against us and if in not doing so could or will harm any defence that we would raise in reply to court actions taken if any.

I would also like to know if it is customary for the firm of lawyers acting for the claimants, to now also be calling us by phone and requesting us to make answer to their claims.

I would greatly appreciate your feedback and advice

GreyWing · 11-10-2011, 03:06:25 PM

Hi and welcome

Might be best to look up things like easy pizza easypizza.co.uk and I think EasyGolf.co.uk who defended a similar claim.

There are a few examples which others may recall.

max_rk · 11-10-2011, 03:27:13 PM

Sir Stelios is not driving force of Easy Group PLC (EG) he is chasing his new dream fastjet.com.

Fav icon you use can be “seen as similar to” EG’s used on easyjet.com.

I wrote in this forum about disputes. ”It’s good to talk”. Its best to reply to letter but do not give in, you have to hold your own, think ahead. I have no experience at the court, but I am guessing that it could be taken against you for not replying to complainant for such long time.

max_rk · 11-10-2011, 03:34:17 PM

easyguletvip.com seems to be your domain also. Colors on navigation very orange.

Ashton · 11-10-2011, 03:38:23 PM

Probably best you talk to http://www.adlexsolicitors.co.uk/ they are very experienced and receive many recommendations here.

If I recall correctly, someone said they provide a free initial consultation too.

Rob_F · 11-10-2011, 04:07:25 PM

Worth a read...

http://www.pressbox.co.uk/detailed/M...ted_71152.html

If it were me, I'd pay for a decent IP solicitor to review the claims and shoot off a letter to them. Worth paying a few hundred quid to potentially "nip it in the bud" early - as tempting as it might be to simply tell them to F-off

- Rob

Ashton · 11-10-2011, 04:23:33 PM

Regarding what Rob just said - the company that represented the respondent (easypizza not stelios!) has now represented at least 2 'easy' brand names successfully so might be worth getting in touch with them.

I imagine as soon as the lawyers for the easy group see 'memery crystal' on the letter they will back off!

BREWSTERS · 11-10-2011, 09:06:17 PM

http://johnberryhill.com/

Not used him personally, but if I get any issues again - I probably will - got a very good record at defending domain holders and I don't think he charges for an initial chat.

As per your question; "I would also like to know if it is customary for the firm of lawyers acting for the claimants, to now also be calling us by phone and requesting us to make answer to their claims."

Yes, I have experienced this before - I said nothing and asked them to use email in future if they had any questions.

invincible · 11-10-2011, 09:28:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BREWSTERS

http://johnberryhill.com/

Not used him personally, but if I get any issues again - I probably will - got a very good record at defending domain holders and I don't think he charges for an initial chat.

Although the OP appears to have a .com, I've never known JB to act for a .uk Respondent.

Quote:

As per your question; "I would also like to know if it is customary for the firm of lawyers acting for the claimants, to now also be calling us by phone and requesting us to make answer to their claims."

Yes, I have experienced this before - I said nothing and asked them to use email in future if they had any questions.

There's nothing wrong with a lawyer approaching someone who doesn't have legal representation. However once they are made aware that the person does have legal representation, all correspondence should go there.

Beasty · 12-10-2011, 10:19:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashton

Regarding what Rob just said - the company that represented the respondent (easypizza not stelios!) has now represented at least 2 'easy' brand names successfully so might be worth getting in touch with them.

I imagine as soon as the lawyers for the easy group see 'memery crystal' on the letter they will back off!

David Hansel, formerly of Memery Crystal, now has his own firm - Hansel Henson (www.HanselHenson.com).

He is the guy who represented EasyPizza and EasyArt (and I think some others) against EasyGroup. If you have a problem with EasyGroup - he would be the guy I would recommend.

Disclaimer - David is a friend of mine and someone I have done some work with.

11-10-2011, 02:30:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
racerace1 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 6 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (0% / 0)	Domain name issues with Easy Group Intellectual Property Infringement I have Sir Stelios of Easy Jet fame and his group of solicitors, claiming copywrite infringement, literary infringement, intellectual property infringement and so on and to this extent demanding handing over of our company domains and cessation of trading with threats of injunctions, damages, costs, etc, against ourselves for the continued use of our company domain Easygulet.com and Easygulet.co.uk Despite the designs of Easygulet.com and EasyGulet.co.uk, its marketing and content, which bears no correlation or shares by way of any mark or services offered online, by way of its logos, colour scheme, or any such inference to that of the easy group plc; That may also suggest its operations in anyway bear reference too is supported by, or is part of the easy group plc and any of its registered product offerings/brand names and thus unlikely to cause by way of confusion to the consumers of the United Kingdom and Globally. To this extent the easy group’s lawyers have written a number of times to us over a period of 7 months with continued threats of legal action unless we relinquish our web domains to them along with signed undertakings. We have never made any reply to their letters in the past and would like to know if we are duty bound by any statutory UK law or by the rules of PRACTICE DIRECTION – PRE-ACTION CONDUCT to make reply in anyway to their claims against us and if in not doing so could or will harm any defence that we would raise in reply to court actions taken if any. I would also like to know if it is customary for the firm of lawyers acting for the claimants, to now also be calling us by phone and requesting us to make answer to their claims. I would greatly appreciate your feedback and advice

11-10-2011, 03:06:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
GreyWing Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Barnsley Posts: 3,176 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 18)	Hi and welcome Might be best to look up things like easy pizza easypizza.co.uk and I think EasyGolf.co.uk who defended a similar claim. There are a few examples which others may recall. __________________ Make cash from your website, any website, any sector... That.co.uk Find out more

11-10-2011, 03:27:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
max_rk Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London Posts: 127 Classified Rating: 100% (1) Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 4)	Sir Stelios is not driving force of Easy Group PLC (EG) he is chasing his new dream fastjet.com. Fav icon you use can be “seen as similar to” EG’s used on easyjet.com. I wrote in this forum about disputes. ”It’s good to talk”. Its best to reply to letter but do not give in, you have to hold your own, think ahead. I have no experience at the court, but I am guessing that it could be taken against you for not replying to complainant for such long time. Last edited by max_rk; 11-10-2011 at 03:28:45 PM. Reason: spell

11-10-2011, 03:38:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ashton Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Coast Posts: 1,518 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 21)	Probably best you talk to http://www.adlexsolicitors.co.uk/ they are very experienced and receive many recommendations here. If I recall correctly, someone said they provide a free initial consultation too. Last edited by Ashton; 12-10-2011 at 07:09:37 AM.

11-10-2011, 09:06:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
BREWSTERS Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hambleton Posts: 1,465 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 14)	http://johnberryhill.com/ Not used him personally, but if I get any issues again - I probably will - got a very good record at defending domain holders and I don't think he charges for an initial chat. As per your question; "I would also like to know if it is customary for the firm of lawyers acting for the claimants, to now also be calling us by phone and requesting us to make answer to their claims." Yes, I have experienced this before - I said nothing and asked them to use email in future if they had any questions. __________________ .net developed - buy the .com

11-10-2011, 03:34:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
max_rk Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London Posts: 127 Classified Rating: 100% (1) Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 4)	easyguletvip.com seems to be your domain also. Colors on navigation very orange.

11-10-2011, 04:07:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rob_F Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,085 Classified Rating: 100% (1) Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 46)	Worth a read... http://www.pressbox.co.uk/detailed/M...ted_71152.html If it were me, I'd pay for a decent IP solicitor to review the claims and shoot off a letter to them. Worth paying a few hundred quid to potentially "nip it in the bud" early - as tempting as it might be to simply tell them to F-off - Rob

11-10-2011, 04:23:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ashton Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Coast Posts: 1,518 No Classified Ratings Domain Trader Rating: (100% / 21)	Regarding what Rob just said - the company that represented the respondent (easypizza not stelios!) has now represented at least 2 'easy' brand names successfully so might be worth getting in touch with them. I imagine as soon as the lawyers for the easy group see 'memery crystal' on the letter they will back off!

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