EasyJet Founder Sues Netflix Over TV Series 'Easy'

(RTTNews) - UK-based budget airline easyJet Plc's (ESYJY.PK, EZJ.L) parent company EasyGroup is suing Netflix Inc. (NFLX) over its comedy series "Easy," saying that the video-streaming giant is infringing on its European trademarks, according to media reports.

"Easy" is an anthology series, written and directed by Joe Swanberg. According to Netflix, "Easy" explores diverse Chicago characters as they fumble through the modern maze of love, sex, technology and culture. The series features stars, including Orlando Bloom, Malin Akerman, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jake Johnson and Emily Ratajkowski.

According to the Sunday Times, legal proceedings against the show are slated to begin this week and EasyGroup will seek an injunction to prevent Netflix from using the name in Europe.

easyGroup founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou reportedly told CNBC that Netflix was "arrogant." He also claimed the company had not checked the legal rights to the name outside the U.S.

An easyJet spokesperson said that easyGroup owns more than 1,000 registered trademarks within the easy family of brands all over the world.

easyGroup is known for fiercely protecting its name and trademarks. The company has a "brand thieves" section on its website that provides details about court cases related to its trademarks.

In response to the lawsuit, Netflix reportedly told The Sunday Times that "viewers can tell the difference between a show they watch and a plane they fly in."