Estee Lauder Sues Perfumer Over Name
Stock image. (Getty/Mariya Borisova)
British perfumer Jo Malone is facing legal action over her latest fragrance collaboration. Estée Lauder Companies, which acquired the Jo Malone brand and rights to Malone’s name in 1999, has filed a lawsuit against her, alleging that her partnership with fashion retailer Zara violates the terms of that agreement.
The new perfume, called “Jo Loves,” is promoted as a “creation by Jo Malone,” a description Estée Lauder claims infringes on its trademark and undermines the identity of its Jo Malone London brand. The lawsuit, targeting Malone, Jo Loves, and Zara’s UK division, accuses them of trademark infringement, breach of contract, and “passing off,” a legal term for misleading consumers into thinking a product comes from a different company.
According to Estée Lauder, the 1999 agreement prevented Malone from using her name for marketing purposes. The company emphasizes that it has invested 25 years and considerable resources in building the Jo Malone London brand and intends to enforce the contract. Malone has previously expressed regret over relinquishing commercial control of her name, describing it as “the biggest mistake of my life,” according to the Guardian.
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