Jo Malone hopes ‘sense will prevail’ in lawsuit over her name
Jo Malone Hopes ‘Sense Will Prevail’ in Lawsuit Over Her Name
Legal Battle Erupts Over Brand Collaboration
Estée Lauder, the global beauty corporation, has initiated High Court proceedings against Jo Malone and Zara, alleging that the use of Malone’s name on product packaging infringes on trademark rights and breaches a contract. The dispute centers on a partnership between Jo Loves, Malone’s newly launched brand, and the Spanish retailer.
Malone, the iconic fragrance designer, founded her original company, Jo Malone London, in the early 1990s. In 1999, Estée Lauder acquired the brand, including the rights to her name, for an undisclosed sum. She retained a creative role until 2006, when she stepped down as creative director.
Following the sale, Malone established Jo Loves in 2011. The brand offers a range of products, from perfumes to candles and toiletries. Last month, Estée Lauder took legal action after the collaboration with Zara began seven years ago. The packaging of the joint venture featured the phrase: “A creation by Jo Malone CBE, founder of Jo Loves.”
Malone expressed hope that “sense will prevail” in the legal dispute. In a recent Instagram video, she described her surprise and disappointment, stating that Jo Loves and Zara had “gone above and beyond” to clarify that the collaboration was “nothing to do with Jo Malone London, the company.” “We’ve done as much as we possibly can,” she added.
Despite the partnership being with Jo Loves, Estée Lauder claims the use of Malone’s name on the packaging violates the terms of the 1999 agreement. Under that deal, she agreed not to use the “Jo Malone” name for commercial purposes, such as marketing fragrances.
“I sold a company, I did not sell myself,” Malone remarked in the video. She questioned why Estée Lauder is pursuing legal action now, arguing that the collaboration was valid from the start. “If it was wrong now, it would have been wrong on day one, and nobody did anything about it.”
Estée Lauder has emphasized that Malone “agreed to clear contractual terms that included refraining from using the Jo Malone name in certain commercial contexts, including the marketing of fragrances.” The company noted that she was “compensated as part of this agreement” and “abided by its terms for many years.”
The BBC has sought a response from Estée Lauder, while Zara has chosen not to comment. Malone also stressed the importance of her personal identity, saying, “I can’t stop being a person.” She remains committed to defending her position in court, though she hopes for a resolution that allows both parties to coexist in the market.
