‘David v Goliath fight’ between Rightmove and estate agency over naming rights
Rightmove has launched a trademark dispute against London-based rental agency Right Room, claiming both the smaller company's branding and name are too similar to its own.
Property portal giant Rightmove has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Right Room founder Ehsan Ahmed, arguing that the use of ‘Right’ followed by ‘Room’ had ‘clear visual, aural and conceptual similarities’ to ‘Rightmove’ and that the combination with a similar teal colour scheme and house logo created a ‘risk of consumer confusion.’
Like I had been hit by a bus.”
Ahmed, who founded the company in 2015 but rebranded in 2021, told the Standard newspaper that receiving the letter made him feel ‘like I had been hit by a bus,’ and accused Rightmove of ‘bullying’ his smaller business in what he characterised as a ‘David versus Goliath’ battle.
The London-based agency, which employs 30 people compared to Rightmove‘s 800, specialises in matching young professionals and students with flat shares and is in no way a property portal. Ahmed, therefore, maintained that the two companies operate in completely different sectors, adding that Right Room also focuses exclusively on London.
Right Room‘s company profile states, ‘We are not a property business, we are a people business,’ and its focus is on ‘making the room rental process as easy as booking a property on Airbnb or booking a hotel’.
In addition, Ahmed claimed that during his company’s rebranding process in 2020-2021, he conducted thorough due diligence, including filing with the trademark office, and received no objections during the standard period for raising concerns.
After Ahmed offered to discuss a compromise, however, the portal has shown signs of softening its position. In a letter sent to his company on April 16, it acknowledged ‘commercial concerns’ raised by the business owner regarding the ‘disruption that a complete rebrand’ would potentially have on his business.
Limit on commercial disruption
It has reportedly therefore now offered a ‘mutual compromise’ between the two businesses which would ‘address specific trademark concerns but also limit any commercial disruption’ to Ahmed’s business.
This would include allowing him to continue using the ‘Right Room’ name. The specific terms of the compromise were not disclosed.
Rightmove, though, declined to comment when approached by the Standard about the dispute.
