March 12 (Reuters) - U.S. cosmetics giant Estee Lauder ( EL )

has filed a lawsuit against British entrepreneur Jo

Malone, her fragrance brand Jo Loves and Zara's UK business for

using her name, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Estee Lauder ( EL ) bought Malone's self-named perfume brand - and

the rights to use her name - in 1999. Malone left the company in

2006 and launched a new fragrance label, "Jo Loves", in 2011.

The use of "Jo Malone" on the packaging of Jo Loves

fragrances sold by Zara formed the basis of the lawsuit filed on

Wednesday, the FT report said.

Malone is now being sued by the U.S. group for breach of

contract, trademark infringement and "passing off" - a term

referring to misleading consumers into thinking goods or

services are those of another company, the report said.

Estee Lauder ( EL ), Zara UK's parent Inditex and Jo Loves

did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Malone

could not be immediately reached.