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Scottish travel search engine Skyscanner has initiated legal action against French competitor Fly Scanner, alleging that the latter has been using similar trademarks to mislead consumers and divert traffic to its own platform. The lawsuit, filed in the High Court, accuses Fly Scanner of "riding on the coattails of the Skyscanner marks" to deceive users into booking flights through its services since at least August 2018.

Allegations of Trademark Infringement

Skyscanner contends that Fly Scanner's actions constitute deliberate trademark infringement. The company asserts that Fly Scanner has knowingly engaged in these activities, leading to consumer confusion and potential harm to Skyscanner's reputation.

Consumer Complaints Highlight Service Issues

The lawsuit references customer dissatisfaction with Fly Scanner's services, citing a 1.7-star average rating on Trustpilot.com, where users have described the platform as a "scam" and "fraudulent." As of November 27, Fly Scanner's Trustpilot rating has improved to 3.7 stars, with reviews polarized between one-star and five-star ratings.

Accusations of Passing Off and Misrepresentation

Skyscanner alleges that Fly Scanner has attempted to pass off its services as those of Skyscanner, falsely suggesting a commercial link between the two companies. The claim also states that Fly Scanner has used advertising keywords such as "skyscanner" and "sky-scanner" to intentionally divert potential users, increasing the risk of consumer confusion.

Legal Remedies Sought

In its lawsuit, Skyscanner seeks an injunction to prevent Fly Scanner from infringing on four specific trademarks and from using any "Flyscanner" signs to market an online travel search engine. Additionally, Skyscanner requests the transfer of the fly-scanner.com domain to its ownership.

Previous Legal Actions

This is not Skyscanner's first legal battle over trademark issues. In January, the company sued online travel agency Loveholidays for trademark infringement, alleging that its sun-on-the-horizon logo unfairly capitalized on Skyscanner's established branding.

Representatives for both Skyscanner and Fly Scanner have not yet responded to requests for comment.