Easy Life group sued by easyGroup reveals inspired new name

The group formerly named Easy Life has been renamed Hard Life after facing copyright legal action from easyJet’s owners easyGroup.

In 2023, the five-piece band from Leicester were taken to court by easyGroup, the brand that owns companies such as easyJet and easyGym.

The conglomerate accused the musicians of being “brand thieves” and claimed the group formed by Murray Matravers, Oliver Cassidy, Sam Hewitt, Lewis Alexander Berry and Jordan Birtles had infringed the rights of online retailer Easylife because their name was too similar.

The independent artists had been performing under their previous name since 2017, and although they initially said they would fight to keep their name, they ultimately agreed to change their title.

Tuesday June 11, the group revealed their new name by announcing their new single, “Tears”.

Speaking to BBC News about the battle over the name, which even won them the support of MPs, leader Murray Matravers said they felt “angry and helpless”.

However, the group agreed to the change to avoid a costly legal battle and because the specific name was not as important to them in the long run. Matravers said: “But if our name affects them that much, I will walk away from it – because it’s not worth it. »

Describing the debacle as “the strangest, most surreal thing” that’s ever happened to him, Matravers continued: “I mean, it’s absolutely crazy.

“We obviously didn’t get into music to fight big companies in legal battles.”

Matravers added that the band’s change to Hard Life had not impacted their musical output and that they had “made peace” with the situation.

“The name doesn’t change anything – it doesn’t change who I am as an artist,” Matravers said.

The frontman said choosing a new name was an easy choice, with all members saying Hard Life was a clear next step.

“All of us, unanimously in the group, turned around and said, ‘It must be Hard Life, surely,'” Matravers noted, likening the group’s naming process to finding a name for a song: “I learned that the first idea is always the best, so I kept that same philosophy with the band name.

At the time of the trial, the company said in a statement: “In reference to the brand thief, Mr. Matravers, and other members of the group who decided to use our brand, easyLife, without authorization.

“We have a long-standing history of legally stopping thieves from using our brands and I am confident we will stop Mr. Matravers.”