Inditex’s UK retail unit has challenged a trademark infringement claim by Estée Lauder, saying its use of Jo Malone’s name on Zara fragrances had previously been approved by the cosmetics group’s legal counsel.

According to a Reuters report, the case focuses on Estée Lauder’s ownership of the Jo Malone trademark, which it acquired in 1999.

Initially filed in March, Estée Lauder’s lawsuit names Jo Malone, her Jo Loves fragrance business, and Inditex’s UK subsidiary ITX.

The dispute concerns the use of “Jo Malone” in Zara product listings online, and the wording “Created by Jo Malone CBE, founder of Jo Loves” on packaging.

The fragrance bottles carry Zara branding only.

According to ITX, after Estée Lauder first objected in August 2020, the issue was settled two months later when the US company’s lawyers confirmed that the wording in question was acceptable.

ITX also says those lawyers later advised that Malone should be referred to as “Jo Malone CBE”, “Ms Jo Malone”, “Ms Malone”, or “Jo”, while avoiding any wording linking her to the Jo Malone fragrance brand.

Zara’s UK website currently states that the products were made “In collaboration with perfumer Ms Jo Malone CBE, founder of Jo Loves”, which ITX says is consistent with that guidance.

Malone departed Estée Lauder in 2006 and started Jo Loves five years later. She began a fragrance partnership with Zara in 2019.

ITX has also denied Estée Lauder’s passing off claim and challenged the description of its fragrances as “budget” products.

In its latest full-year results, Inditex said net profit for the fiscal year ended 31 January 2026 rose 6% year-on-year to €6.22bn ($7.18bn) while net sales increased 3.2% to €39.86bn.