Finance
Estee lauder sues perfumer jo malone, zara UK for contract breach, FT reports
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 12, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 12, 2026
Quick Summary
Estee Lauder has filed a lawsuit on March 11, 2026, against Jo Malone, her Jo Loves brand, and Zara UK for using the “Jo Malone” name on Jo Loves fragrances sold through Zara, alleging breach of contract, trademark infringement, and passing off—since Estée Lauder acquired the rights to the Jo Malone
Estee Lauder Companies sues perfumer Jo Malone, Zara UK for using her name
Legal Dispute Over Use of Jo Malone Name
By Angela Christy M and Ruchika Khanna
Background of the Lawsuit
March 12 (Reuters) - Cosmetics giant Estee Lauder Companies on Thursday said it filed a lawsuit against British entrepreneur Jo Malone, her fragrance brand "Jo Loves" and Zara's UK business for the use of Malone's name on certain products as the U.S. firm owns the brand.
Estee Lauder Companies bought Malone's self-named perfume brand - and the rights to use her name - in 1999. Malone left the company in 2006 and launched a new fragrance label, "Jo Loves", in 2011.
Basis of the Legal Action
The company said the use of "Jo Malone" on the packaging of "Jo Loves" fragrances sold by Zara formed the basis of the lawsuit, which was filed in a British court on Wednesday.
Details of the Agreement
Malone had agreed with the U.S. company to not use the "Jo Malone" name in certain commercial contexts, including the marketing of fragrances, a company spokesperson said in a statement.
"Ms Malone's use of the name "Jo Malone" in connection with recent commercial ventures goes beyond that legal agreement and undermines Jo Malone London's unique brand equity," the spokesperson added, referring to the company's agreement with Malone.
Allegations and Responses
Malone, along with the others, is being sued by Estee Lauder for breach of contract, trademark infringement and "passing off" - a term referring to misleading consumers into thinking goods or services are those of another company, according to the spokesperson.
Zara UK's parent Inditex and Jo Loves did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Malone could not be immediately reached. The Financial Times first reported on the lawsuit.
Product Packaging and Market Impact
Reuters checks on Zara's UK website show that the "Jo Loves Collab" fragrances contain the line, "Created by Jo Malone CBE, founder of Jo Loves." It was not immediately clear whether this also appears on the product packaging or when products bearing Jo Malone's name were put up for sale by Zara.
Industry Context
The legal action comes at a time when Estee Lauder and other cosmetics companies have been cashing in on an uptick in demand for fragrances led by Gen Z consumers.
Other Recent Legal Actions
Last month, Estee Lauder sued Walmart in the U.S., accusing the retail giant of selling knockoffs of Estee Lauder fragrance and skin care brands including Clinique, Tom Ford and Le Labo.
(Reporting by Ruchika Khanna and Angela Christy in Bengaluru; Editing by Sumana Nandy and Louise Heavens)
Key Takeaways
- •Estée Lauder owns the rights to the “Jo Malone” name since its 1999 acquisition and alleges its use by Jo Loves via Zara breaches that agreement—claims include breach of contract, trademark infringement, and passing off (personalcareinsights.com)
- •Jo Malone departed Estée Lauder in 2006 and launched “Jo Loves” in 2011; Estée claims that packaging using “Jo Malone” on Jo Loves products sold at Zara UK misleads consumers and violates trademark rights ()
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Estee Lauder sues perfumer Jo Malone, Zara UK for contract breach, FT reports
1Why did Estee Lauder sue Jo Malone and Zara UK?
Estee Lauder sued Jo Malone, Jo Loves, and Zara UK for allegedly breaching contract terms and infringing on trademarks related to Jo Malone's name.
2What rights did Estee Lauder acquire from Jo Malone?
Estee Lauder acquired the Jo Malone brand and the rights to use the 'Jo Malone' name in 1999.
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