Anthropic trademark dispute in India: Bengaluru firm sues US AI giant for Rs 1 crore

As the US-based artificial intelligence company Anthropic expands its footprint in India, it faces a legal challenge from a Bengaluru-based software firm that shares its name. The local company, Anthropic Software, claims to have been using the name since 2017, long before the American giant entered the market, and argues that this has resulted in significant brand confusion among consumers. In a formal complaint submitted to a Karnataka commercial court in January, Anthropic Software is seeking recognition of its prior use of the 'Anthropic' name. The firm is also requesting legal protection to prevent further confusion and is pursuing damages amounting to Rs 10 million (approximately Rs 1 crore). Mohammad Ayyaz Mulla, the founder and director of Anthropic Software, emphasized that the intention behind the lawsuit is not to be confrontational but rather to clarify the situation. He expressed to TechCrunch that the overlap in branding has led to considerable confusion for his clients. Mulla is open to finding a coexistence solution but insists that the lawsuit is a necessary step to safeguard his business's rights. This dispute arises at a pivotal moment for Anthropic, which recently appointed Irina Ghose, the former managing director of Microsoft India, to lead its operations in the country. Such moves highlight India's importance as a competitive landscape for AI companies like Anthropic and OpenAI, especially considering the nation’s rapid growth in internet usage. The legal entanglement comes just ahead of the AI Impact Summit set to take place in New Delhi, where Anthropic's co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei, along with other prominent tech figures such as Sam Altman and Sundar Pichai, is expected to speak. According to a court order issued on January 20, the Karnataka court has summoned the US company but has opted not to grant an interim injunction at this time. The case is slated for its next hearing on February 16.