Tiny Dorset Guesthouse Takes on Airbnb in Legal Fight Over Three Little Letters

A six-room bed and breakfast on the Isle of Portland is facing a legal challenge from Airbnb over its use of the letters 'bnb' in its name. bnb-side, stylised in lower case and created by the non-profit b-side arts festival, applied in February 2026 to register its name and logo as a trademark with the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

Airbnb later filed a formal opposition to the application. The dispute centres on whether the short form 'bnb', which bnb-side says is simply shorthand for 'bed and breakfast', can be used by a small hospitality business without infringing Airbnb's trademark rights.

Festival Says Guesthouse Underpins Its Finances

bnb-side was established in 2024 as a way for the b-side arts festival to create a more dependable source of income. The six-room guesthouse now generates almost half of the festival's annual turnover of £250,000, according to the organisation. Its income was intended to reduce the festival's reliance on public funding and help secure its future.

The wider organisation is also raising money to buy the building at 77 Fortuneswell, which houses its arts and community space. It has raised just over £2,000 towards a £50,000 target.

That financial role has made the trademark dispute particularly significant for b-side. The festival says changing the bnb-side name could cost money and disrupt an important source of income.

Guesthouse Defends 'Descriptive' Use of the Term

b-side argues that 'bnb' is a widely used and descriptive abbreviation for 'bed and breakfast' rather than a term that should belong exclusively to one company.

The organisation says a name change would mean replacing signs, updating its website and social media, and changing advertising and other branded materials. It also says starting again under a new name could hurt a business that has been operating since 2024.

Intellectual property experts cited in the case say descriptive terms can generally be used by others, depending on the circumstances of a trademark dispute. Companies House records cited by b-side show that 14 accommodation businesses with 'bnb' in their names have registered over the past decade.

Airbnb Claims It Sought Contact Before Objecting

Airbnb said it contacted b-side several times before filing its opposition in an effort to resolve the issue directly. The company said it received no response, or only a brief acknowledgement, and decided to file an objection after no substantive dialogue had been established.

Under UK trademark rules, parties have a limited period in which to oppose an application. Airbnb said it therefore filed within the statutory two-month window to protect its position while that option remained available.

An Airbnb spokesperson said the company would prefer to resolve the matter amicably and remains open to direct discussions with b-side. The objection is based on three main grounds.

According to press reports on the UK IPO opposition, Airbnb argues that the mark could cause consumer confusion, create an unfair advantage or damage to its reputation, and allow bnb-side to profit financially by appearing to be an official Airbnb service. Those arguments have not been finally determined. The case remains before the IPO.

Manager Links Dispute To Wider Concerns Over Airbnb

For bnb-side manager Cat Wightman, the dispute also comes against a backdrop of wider concerns about short-term rentals in Portland.

Wightman said some small hospitality businesses had closed as Airbnb listings increased. She also raised concerns about housing affordability, saying some local residents had been priced out as more properties were used for short-term accommodation.

She cited the example of one individual who owns eight properties on the island, all listed on Airbnb. Those claims form part of the wider local debate over the role of short-term rentals and housing in Portland. They are separate from the trademark proceedings between Airbnb and b-side.

Case Continues at the IPO

The trademark application and Airbnb's opposition remain under consideration by the UK Intellectual Property Office. bnb-side maintains that 'bnb' is a descriptive term already used by other accommodation businesses and says the dispute could have implications beyond its own guesthouse.

Airbnb, meanwhile, says its action was taken to safeguard its UK trademark rights within the required deadline and that it remains willing to discuss a settlement directly with b-side. For now, the future of the bnb-side name remains undecided as the IPO process continues.