EasyJet founder is suing Easyfun accusing the artist of “mimicking” their brand
Easyfun has changed his cover art in response to the claim adding, “it's very obvious that it's meant as a joke”
DJ and producer Easyfun has been accused of “mimicking” EasyJet’s brand.
The airline is suing the PC Music artist claiming he tried to, “mimic easyGroup’s famous branding to create instant brand recognition for his ‘DJing business.”
Easyfun - real name Finn Keane - has been accused of “alleged deliberate misappropriation” of EasyJet including its trademarks such as the “well-known orange styling as used by its family of brands”.
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EasyJet has a particular issue with Easyfun’s 2015 EP ‘Deep Trouble’ as its cover art displays people sliding off a plane into the ocean.
The airline claim it is “seriously concerned” by the depiction of a “serious aircrash”, stating: “Not only is the artwork in bad taste but an association with such a tragic event risks seriously damaging the reputation in easyGroup’s trade marks, in particular easyJet.”
This claim was brought by EasyJet founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou who names PC Music and the label founder A.G. Cook as defendants.
Music Tech report that Easyfun has since responded to Haji-Ioannou’s lawyers stating: “If your client is annoyed at some of the artwork or images that they think mimics the easyFamily get up, that has always been completely tongue in cheek.”
He adds: “It’s very obvious that it’s meant as a joke and I really struggle to understand why your client has any reason to be concerned about it.
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“That said, I obviously don’t want to be stuck in a legal dispute with a big company like your client and so I have removed the examples in your letter where I can and will seek to avoid similar artwork in the future.”
Easyfun has since changed the cover art for ‘Deep Trouble’ to an image of the ocean.
Earlier this year, EasyJet sued the indie band Easy Life for their name calling them "brand thieves".
Read EasyJet's full claim against Easyfun here.
Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Multimedia Editor, follow her on Twitter
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