Jo Malone, the celebrated perfume designer, has publicly addressed a High Court lawsuit filed against her by beauty conglomerate Estée Lauder, expressing hope that "sense will prevail" in the dispute over her name.
Estée Lauder, which acquired Malone's original brand, Jo Malone London, and the rights to her name in 1999, initiated legal proceedings last month. The action targets a collaboration between Malone's subsequent venture, Jo Loves, and fashion retailer Zara. The company alleges trademark infringement and breach of contract, seeking over £200,000 in damages.
At the heart of the case is the packaging for the Zara collaboration, which states: "A creation by Jo Malone CBE, founder of Jo Loves." Estée Lauder contends this commercial use of Malone's name violates the terms of their 1999 agreement.
In a candid Instagram video, Malone shared her reaction to the lawsuit for the first time. "I was very surprised and very sad," she stated. She emphasized that she and her team had taken extensive measures to clarify that the Zara partnership, ongoing since 2019, was distinct from the Estée Lauder-owned Jo Malone London brand.
"We've literally done as much as we possibly can," Malone asserted. "I can't stop being a person. I sold a company, I did not sell myself ... those collections were created by me, the person."
Malone questioned the timing of the legal challenge, noting the collaboration launched years ago. "If it was wrong now, it would have been wrong on day one, and nobody did anything about it," she remarked.
While prepared to defend her position in court, Malone expressed a desire for an amicable resolution. "I hope sense will prevail and we will find a new and different way to work in the same marketplace. My integrity means a lot to me."
Estée Lauder's legal argument, as seen in court documents, claims the "low-cost" Zara products "undermine" the luxury reputation of the Jo Malone London brand. The company stated: "She agreed to clear contractual terms... She was compensated as part of this agreement, and for many years, she abided by its terms... legally binding contractual obligations cannot be disregarded."
Malone, who founded her first perfume company in the early 1990s, sold it to Estée Lauder but remained creative director until 2006. A non-compete clause prevented her from launching new fragrance lines until 2011, when she established Jo Loves. She has previously expressed regret over selling the rights to her name.
Zara has declined to comment on the ongoing case.