Jo Malone speaks out after being sued over use of own name

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The perfume designer Jo Malone said she hopes “sense will prevail” as she battles a lawsuit with Estée Lauder over the use of her own name. Last month the beauty firm sued Malone and the retailer Zara, who began collaborating in 2019 under the brand Jo Loves. Two decades earlier, Estée Lauder bought the perfume brand Jo Malone London, along with the rights to Malone’s name. The firm believes the designer was responsible for a trademark infringement and contract breach with the tagline: “A creation by Jo Malone CBE, founder of Jo Loves.” Malone said on Instagram that Jo Loves and Zara made clear the collaboration was “nothing to do” with Jo Malone London, and that she “can’t stop being a person”. Estée Lauder previously said “legally binding contractual obligations cannot be disregarded”.