Muslim Dating App Muzz, Formerly Muzmatch, Loses Appeal Against Match Group To Retain Old Name
Updated: Aug 26
Dating startups should probably think twice about including the word "match" somewhere in their company and app's names.
The Muslim dating app Muzz, formerly Muzmatch, lost its appeal to keep its old name over similarities to Tinder owner Match Group, as BBC reports. A U.K. Court of Appeal reportedly upheld a June 2022 ruling that consumers might associate Muzmatch to Match Group or think the former is owned by the latter when neither is true.
Muzz wasn't pleased with the court's decision, saying that it's "deeply worrying for other start-ups in the dating sector". Match Group, on the other hand, had the opposite reaction. "We've always known that Muzmatch has unfairly benefitted from our reputation and investment in our brands, and was unrightfully riding Match Group's coat-tails for its own gain," a Match Group spokesperson said.
The original judge's issue with the Muzmatch name reportedly involves the use of search engine optimisation (SEO) keywords that comprise the word "match". SEO describes covers a set of tactics and tools that boost a page's visibility in search engines like Google. Specific words and phrases are usually used to make it more likely for an app or website to pop-up among the top results in searches or queries.
Shahzad Younas, Muzz Founder and CEO, said Match Group had attempted to buy it out on four separate occasions, but he turned down all of them. Now, he believes the dating service giant is using the legal system against its rivals to maintain its "globally dominant position".
"This is small change for a multi-billion dollar conglomerate such as Match Group, however, [it] is precious working capital for a start-up such as ours," Younas told BBC.
"It is clear to us that Match Group will do all they can to kill us with a view to them maintaining their near monopoly on the global dating market."
Younas also notes that Muzz had spent almost US$2 million in legal fees and damages since being taken to court by Match Group.
Muzz isn't the only dating platform specifically for Muslims, though it is one of the most popular. Other examples include Zoosk, ArabianDate and buzzArab.
The Muslim dating app Muzz, formerly Muzmatch, lost its appeal to keep its old name over similarities to Tinder owner Match Group.
A U.K. Court of Appeal reportedly upheld a June 2022 ruling that consumers might associate Muzmatch to Match Group or think the former is owned by the latter when neither is true.
"This is small change for a multi-billion dollar conglomerate such as Match Group, however, [it] is precious working capital for a start-up such as ours," said Shahzad Younas, Founder of Muzz.
