Anthropic Faces Trademark Lawsuit in India by Local Firm With Same Name; Bengaluru Company Seeks USD 1,10,000 in Damages

Mumbai, February 10: United States-based artificial intelligence startup Anthropic is facing a legal challenge in India as a local software company claims prior rights to the "Anthropic" name. The dispute comes at a critical juncture for the Amazon-backed firm, which recently appointed former Microsoft India managing director Irina Ghose to lead its operations in the country.

A complaint was filed in a commercial court in Karnataka by Anthropic Software, an Indian company that asserts it has been operating under the name since 2017. The local firm is seeking recognition of its prior use and 10 million (around USD 1,10,000) in damages, citing significant customer confusion since the global AI giant began its formal entry into the South Asian market. WhatsApp SIM-Binding: Centre Informs Supreme Court of New Measures To Curb Digital Arrest Scams and Enhance User Safety,

Anthropic Legal Proceedings and Court Action

The Karnataka commercial court issued a notice and suit summons to the American entity on January 20. While the court declined to grant an interim injunction at this stage, the matter has been listed for a follow-up hearing on February 16. The plaintiff, led by founder and director Mohammad Ayyaz Mulla, stated that litigation was a secondary option sought only after failing to achieve "clean coexistence."

"As of now, I am exercising my legal right as it’s causing huge confusion to my customers," Mulla told reporters. The Indian firm maintains that its established presence in the local software sector predates the 2021 founding of the San Francisco-based AI lab, spotlighting the recurring friction between expanding global tech giants and domestic incumbents.

Anthropic: India as a Strategic AI Battleground

The trademark conflict emerges as India becomes a primary theatre for global AI competition. Anthropic announced the establishment of its India office in October 2025, viewed as a direct move to challenge the dominance of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini in the region. The country’s vast internet user base and growing developer ecosystem have made it an essential destination for frontier model developers.

Next week, New Delhi is set to host the AI Impact Summit, an event that will see Anthropic Chief Executive Dario Amodei appear alongside other industry leaders, including Sam Altman, Jensen Huang, and Sundar Pichai. The presence of these executives underscores the strategic importance of the Indian market for the future of generative AI deployment.

Operational Impact and Future Outlook

Industry analysts suggest that trademark disputes of this nature are common when high-profile technology firms scale internationally without securing local name rights in advance. For Anthropic, the resolution of this case will be vital for its branding strategy as it attempts to roll out its Claude chatbot and enterprise services to Indian businesses and government departments. John Carreyrou Files Lawsuit against xAI, Google, Meta Over AI Copyright Infringement, New York Times Reporter Alleges Unauthorised Use of Books.

As the February 16 court date approaches, the focus remains on whether both parties can reach a settlement or if the court will impose restrictions on how the American firm markets its services in India. For now, Anthropic continues its hiring push under Irina Ghose, aiming to secure a foothold in one of the world's fastest-growing digital economies despite the ongoing legal hurdles.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 10, 2026 05:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).