Anthropic’s India Expansion Sparks Trademark Clash with Local Software Firm

In a twist that underscores the legal and branding complexities of the global AI race, Anthropic — the buzzy San Francisco-based AI startup — is now entangled in a trademark dispute with a local Indian software company that claims it has been using the name “Anthropic” since 2017.

The conflict comes at a pivotal moment for the AI firm, which has been aggressively expanding its footprint in India, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing digital markets. Last October, Anthropic announced plans to open an office in India, and in January, it appointed former Microsoft India managing director Irina Ghose to lead its Bengaluru operations. These moves signal a clear intent to tap into the South Asian talent pool and customer base as the company competes with rivals like OpenAI for global AI dominance.

But Anthropic’s ambitions may have run into an unexpected legal hurdle. An Indian company called Anthropic Software, based in Karnataka, has filed a complaint in a commercial court claiming prior use of the name and alleging that the U.S. firm’s recent entry into the Indian market has caused significant customer confusion.

The complaint, reviewed by TechCrunch, seeks formal recognition of the Indian company’s prior use of the trademark, relief to prevent further confusion, and ₹10 million (approximately $110,000) in damages. The case has already seen judicial movement: a court order dated January 20 shows that the court has issued notice and summons to Anthropic. However, it declined to grant an interim injunction and has scheduled the next hearing for February 16.

Anthropic Software’s founder and director, Mohammad Ayyaz Mulla, told TechCrunch that the company is not seeking confrontation but rather clarity and recognition of its established presence in India. “As of now, I am exercising my legal right as it’s causing huge confusion to my customers,” Mulla said. He added that litigation would be a last resort if a clean coexistence could not be achieved.

The case highlights the often-overlooked legal minefields that global tech firms can encounter when expanding into new markets. India, with its population of over 1.4 billion and a booming internet economy, has become a key battleground for AI companies. Anthropic’s rival OpenAI has also been making significant moves in the region, and the country is set to host an AI Impact Summit in New Delhi next week. The event will feature prominent industry leaders including Anthropic co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, and Google’s Sundar Pichai.

While Anthropic has not responded to requests for comment, the dispute raises important questions about trademark rights, market entry strategies, and the challenges of scaling globally in an era where AI companies are racing to establish dominance across multiple continents.

For now, the court will decide whether Anthropic’s global brand ambitions can coexist with a local company’s established identity — a case that could set a precedent for how trademark disputes are handled as more AI firms set their sights on India’s vast and lucrative market.

Tags: Anthropic, Anthropic Software, trademark dispute, India expansion, AI companies, OpenAI, Bengaluru, Karnataka, Mohammad Ayyaz Mulla, Irina Ghose, AI Impact Summit, New Delhi, legal battle, global AI race, tech trademarks, customer confusion, court case, Silicon Valley, AI dominance

Viral phrases:

• “AI’s global race hits a legal speed bump in India”
• “Anthropic vs Anthropic: The trademark clash no one saw coming”
• “When Silicon Valley meets South Asia: A naming nightmare”
• “The billion-dollar question: Who owns ‘Anthropic’?”
• “India’s quiet software firm takes on AI giant Anthropic”
• “Customer confusion sparks courtroom showdown”
• “Bengaluru’s underdog fights back against AI behemoth”
• “Trademark wars in the age of artificial intelligence”
• “Anthropic’s India dream meets local reality check”
• “From Microsoft to Anthropic: Irina Ghose’s new AI frontier”

,