Emblem of San Francisco-based AI large Anthropic PBC
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REUTERS/Dado Ruvic
Anthropic Software program Personal Ltd, a Belagavi-based know-how firm based in 2017, has filed a case in the Industrial Division of the District Courtroom at Belagavi in opposition to the San Francisco-based AI large Anthropic PBC, alleging passing off, misrepresentation, and erosion of the Indian firm’s brand identity in India.
The Indian firm develops and deploys digital platforms throughout schooling, connectivity, and security domains. Its work contains an AI-enabled schooling ERP and aggressive examination ecosystem, a Wi-Fi monetisation platform for establishments and public networks, and a patented driving security answer. The corporate works with authorities our bodies, instructional establishments, and pupil communities throughout India, with its options distributed to college students from economically-weaker sections, significantly in rural and underserved areas.
Included beneath the Corporations Act, 2013, and recognised as a start-up by each the Karnataka and the Central governments, it states that it has operated beneath the title “Anthropic” since its inception, whereas the US-based entity was fashioned in 2021.
The corporate shared that the Belagavi courtroom has taken cognisance of the swimsuit and permitted it to proceed with out pre-institution mediation. Whereas the courtroom has issued an emergency discover and summons to the defendant on the injunction utility, it has held that the query of interim restraint will likely be determined after listening to each side. The subsequent listening to listed on February 16.
Shadowed by world title
In keeping with courtroom filings, the dispute goes past title similarity. The Indian firm has alleged that its on-line visibility has been displaced, with search and AI-based platforms prioritising the worldwide entity’s title whereas suppressing or substituting outcomes linked to the Indian firm. These platforms embrace Google Search, with Google being an investor in Anthropic PBC.
The alleged displacement, the corporate mentioned, has resulted in confusion amongst customers, establishments, and authorities stakeholders who had lengthy related the “Anthropic” title with the Indian firm’s platforms and providers.
Chatting with businessline, Mohammad Ayyaz Anees Ahmed Mulla, Founder and Director of Anthropic Software program, mentioned, “We’re a product-based IT firm with patents. We’re additionally pursuing cross-border enlargement, elevating funding and chatting with a number of prospects. However when folks attempt to look us up on-line, they land on the US firm’s web site as an alternative. Because of this, present prospects can’t attain our buyer care numbers or find our addresses.”
He mentioned that two years in the past, searches for the corporate’s title returned its personal web site. Right this moment, that visibility has been overtaken by Anthropic, which beforehand operated with restricted presence and in a distinct market, however is now getting into India. This sudden dominance in on-line visibility has created widespread confusion, he alleged.
Impacting biz
Earlier this 12 months, the Indian firm engaged with buyers and attracted curiosity because of bigger offers in the pipeline. That curiosity has since weakened, as buyers imagine the shortage of clear on-line visibility undermines the corporate’s capability to function successfully.
“We aren’t closely funded like Anthropic. We’re an angel-funded firm. Our merchandise are patented and designed for the Indian ecosystem, and we’ve got obtained awards from the federal government of India. The federal government of Karnataka funded us once we had been working as Anthropic, and now, there’s confusion even inside authorities workplaces,” the founder added.
The Indian firm additionally identified that the title “Anthropic” has acquired a particular secondary which means in India by means of uninterrupted industrial use, patents, authorities collaborations, institutional MoUs, and public-facing digital platforms. It contends that the sudden prominence of the US-based entity beneath the an identical title has led to precise confusion, with customers more and more assuming an affiliation, acquisition, or alternative.
The corporate is addressing the difficulty by means of authorized channels, counting on company regulation ideas that recognise prior use over later registration. It has additionally approached the trademark workplace in search of reconciliation and is contesting the matter there, with the regulation supporting its place. It has sought a number of cures, together with a everlasting injunction restraining the defendant from utilizing the title “Anthropic” in India, withdrawal of India-facing providers beneath that title, rendition of accounts for revenues earned in India, and damages estimated at ₹1 crore.
Anthropic PBC had but to remark by the point of going to press.
(with inputs from bl intern Tejaswini S)
Revealed on February 9, 2026
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