In a significant development in a trademark dispute, Anthropic India Private Limited, the Indian subsidiary of US-based AI firm Anthropic PBC, appeared before the Principal District and Commercial Court in Belagavi on Monday in connection with a case filed by the Belagavi-based IT company Anthropic Softwares Private Limited over the use of the “Anthropic” brand name.
The local startup has accused the US firm and its Indian subsidiary of infringing its brand identity and causing confusion in the market. The company has sought legal protection, claiming the use of the same name has affected its brand visibility and business prospects.
Earlier, the court had issued a summons to Anthropic PBC in January, asking it to appear on February 16. The court later summoned its Indian subsidiary to appear on March 9.
During the hearing, advocate Tejas C. Shetty, representing Anthropic India Private Limited, argued that although the company is a subsidiary of the US-based parent firm, it is a separate legal entity registered in India and cannot represent the parent company in the case.
Responding to this submission, counsel for the Belagavi firm stated that both the US parent company and its Indian subsidiary were included as parties to the suit since the dispute involves the use of the same brand name.
Presiding over the matter, Principal District and Sessions Judge Manjunath Nayak adjourned the case for further hearing and directed that fresh summons be issued to the US address of Anthropic PBC.
According to the suit filed by Mohammad Ayyaz A. Mulla, director of Anthropic Softwares Private Limited, the Belagavi company was established in 2017 and has been recognised as a startup under the Government of India’s Startup India Programme.
Mulla stated that both companies operate in the technology sector and alleged that the US firm deliberately adopted an identical name to benefit from the goodwill and market recognition built by his company in India. He said the company has developed several technology platforms, including a Wi-Fi monetisation system, a safe-driving solution, a competitive exam ecosystem with AI-based learning tools, and an education ERP platform.
The plaintiff also claimed that search results on platforms such as Google prominently display the US company’s name instead of the Belagavi firm’s brand, creating confusion among users, customers and stakeholders and affecting its online visibility, reputation and business opportunities.
The suit further contends that the marks used by both companies are identical in spelling and phonetics, which could mislead the public and amount to passing off and unfair competition. According to the plaintiff, the alleged infringement has caused financial losses and affected potential funding and investment opportunities. The company has sought damages, stating that the losses would not be less than ₹1 crore.
Speaking after the hearing, Ayyaz Mulla, Managing Director of Anthropic Softwares Private Limited, alleged that the defendants were attempting to delay the proceedings through technical objections instead of addressing the core issue of trademark infringement. He said the company would continue to pursue an interim injunction, adding that the ongoing dispute is impacting its brand and upcoming product launches in India and international markets.
The court has posted the matter for the next hearing later this month.
