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Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, better known as EasyJet founder, Stelios, has resigned from the airline’s board. The Greek entrepreneur has taken umbrage with plans to expand the airline’s fleet by 7.5% a year, and is now demanding a £3m annual settlement for the continued use of the ‘Easy’ trademark.

EasyJet is a branch of Stelios’ EasyGroup, which includes EasyBus and EasyHotel, and the more unusual brands, EasyPizza and Easy4Men. Founded in 1998, the conglomerate comprises more than 15 different companies in total, each styled in Easy’s distinctive orange and white branding.

Stelios has an odd penchant for suing any business that uses the word ‘easy’ in its name, regardless of how long the company has been established. In 2004, a London pizza store was taken to the High Court after it refused to surrender its internet domain to Stelios.

The business, named EasyPizza, was alleged to have stolen its name from EasyGroup, despite being a year older than Stelios’ venture. Owner, Karl Kahn, described Stelios as a ‘rich bully.' The High Court and a major intellectual property watchdog have also ruled against the Greek in the past.

Stelios’ resignation from EasyJet’s board was prompted by an argument with the airline’s executive, Andy Harrison, who wants to purchase more aircraft, "I think profits will go up if the number of aircraft stops growing," Stelios explained. "I have given up trying to change things from the inside. Now I'm going to do it from the outside."

EasyJet’s row with its founder goes to court on 8 June – a battle that could cost the airline £5m in legal fees. Perhaps even worse, if a judge rules in favour of Stelios, EasyJet will be forced to ditch the elements of its brand that identify it as a member of EasyGroup, and become a completely new airline.

Stelios, who owns 38% of EasyJet, will now try to engineer a shareholder revolt, in a bid to undermine the airline’s management team.