easyGroup, the company owned by Sir Stelio Haji-Ionnou and which licenses its “easy” name to online agent easyProperty, is being sued by flatsharing company EasyRoommate.

EasyRoommate’s parent firm W3 has issued a High Court writ, according to the Mail.

It is reportedly demanding damages of £100,000 and is seeking an injunction to stop easyGroup from threatening to sue for trademark infringement and passing off.

W3 says it started its flat-sharing service in 1999, while easyGroup was incorporated the following year.

W3 says it registered the easyroommate.co.uk internet address in 2002.

The company says that easyGroup started to make threats to sue for trademark infringement from 2011.

Haji-Ioannou told the Mail: “Any use of the word ‘easy’ followed by a word which denotes the services of goods being offered by a third party is likely to be seen by members of the public as being a new venture under licence from easyGroup.

“We are very confident we will win in court.”

EasyRoommate is based in central London but operates in over 25 countries across the world. It is a partner of the Mayor of London in supporting the London Rental Standard.

A number of estate agents and letting agents can easily be found via the internet which have the word “easy” in their names.