Zara has denied infringing Estée Lauder’s Jo Malone trademark in UK High Court filings, arguing its use of the perfumer’s name on collaboration fragrances follows principles Estée Lauder itself laid out in 2020. Estée Lauder, which acquired the Jo Malone brand and naming rights in 1999, sued Malone, her label Jo Loves, and Zara’s UK business over product descriptions including “Jo Malone.” Parent company ITX said Estée Lauder had permitted references such as “Jo Malone CBE” to distinguish the individual from the brand, and denied “passing off” claims, rejecting the “budget” label for its perfumes priced at 35.99 British pounds ($49) per 100ml versus Jo Malone’s 122-plus pounds ($166+).

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