Dutch Court Bans Wegolo Selli

RNS Number : 1441Q

Ryanair Holdings PLC

29 July 2010

 



DUTCH COURT BANS INTERNET RESELLER WEGOLO FROM SELLING RYANAIR FLIGHTS

Ryanair, the world's favourite airline, today (29^th July) welcomed a landmark victory in the Dutch (Utrecht) Courts which ruled that copying flight information from Ryanair's website for the purpose of reselling flights by internet reseller Wegolo is unlawful.

The Dutch court ruled that the extraction of flight data from Ryanair's website breached Ryanair's rights under Dutch Copyright law.  It also found that Wegolo can have a negative impact on Ryanair's website and damage Ryanair's reputation for offering the lowest fares in Europe. Wegolo must now surrender profits made from their unlicensed and unlawful activity to Ryanair and pay Ryanair damages and costs.  Wegolo is banned from extracting information from Ryanair's website for the purpose of selling Ryanair's flights.

This Dutch court decision is yet another victory for Ryanair after recent wins in Germany, Ireland and the UK.

Ryanair's Stephen McNamara said:

"Today's victory in the Dutch courts is another milestone in Ryanair's fight against internet screenscrapers and resellers.  Websites such as Wegolo have for too long been getting away with unauthorised reselling of Ryanair's flights with the addition of extra charges, which consumers don't pay when they book directly with Ryanair. 

"Ryanair is pleased that the Dutch courts have recognised that this conduct is unlawful.  This decision, along with recent decisions in Germany, Ireland and the UK shows that European Courts support Ryanair's pro-consumer fight against the unauthorised use of Ryanair's website. It will be used as a precedent in ongoing litigation against screenscrapers.

"Genuine price comparison only websites, who wish to present Ryanair's low fares information to consumers as opposed to reselling Ryanair flights with additional fees and charges, can enter into a licence agreement with Ryanair to provide price comparison only information.  If Wegolo is genuinely interested in providing an honest price comparison service, it is welcome to sign up to this licence which is subject to a charitable donation of €100."

Ends.                                                    Thursday, 29^th July 2010

For further information:

Stephen McNamara - Ryanair         Pauline McAlester - Murray Consultants

Tel: [phone]                      Tel: [phone]

 

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