Belagavi: The Principal District and Commercial Court in Belagavi on Monday issued a fresh summons to US-based artificial intelligence company Anthropic PBC in connection with a name and brand dispute case. The next hearing has been scheduled for March 9.
For more details : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/legal/news/belagavi-court-issues-fresh-summons-to-us-ai-firm-anthropic/articleshow/128415251.cms
Earlier, the court had directed the San Francisco-headquartered firm to appear on February 16. However, as the company was not registered in India at that time and had no local office, its representatives did not appear before the court.
Following Anthropic PBC’s recent registration in India through the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) and the establishment of its Indian entity, Anthropic India Pvt Ltd, in Bengaluru, the court has now ordered that summons be served to Irina Ghose, Managing Director of the Indian arm, at the company’s Domlur office.
The case was filed by Belagavi-based Anthropic Software Private Limited, which was incorporated in 2017 and claims prior rights over the name ‘Anthropic’ in India. The company stated that it has been operating in the IT sector for over seven years and has developed AI-integrated educational products, along with patents in driving safety solutions and WiFi monetisation technologies.
Managing Director Mohammad Ayyaz Mulla said the firm has sought an ex parte injunction to restrain the US-based company from offering services in India under the brand name ‘Anthropic’, citing prior proprietary rights. He alleged that the similarity in names has caused business losses, difficulties in attracting investment, diversion of online traffic, and brand confusion.
The suit is based on the common law doctrine of “passing off,” under which prior and continuous use of a brand name may prevail over subsequent adoption, particularly when both entities operate in the same domain.
The matter will be heard next on March 9.
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