I was just digging into Anthropic’s big expansion into India, and things just got incredibly messy. Usually, when a Silicon Valley giant lands in a new country, it’s all about hiring sprees and product launches. But right now, the creators of the Claude AI models are facing a classic “David vs. Goliath” branding battle that I didn’t see coming.
An Indian firm, also named Anthropic, has dragged the AI giant to court, claiming they were using the name long before AI was even a buzzword. It’s one of those “Major First” hurdles that could actually force a total rebrand for the AI startup in the region.
The Conflict: Anthropic vs. Anthropic
This isn’t just a minor disagreement over a logo; it’s a full-blown legal fight. A local company called Anthropic Software recently filed a formal complaint in a Karnataka commercial court. They claim to have been operating under the Anthropic name since 2017, which is years before the San Francisco AI startup even existed. According to their founder, Mohammad Ayyaz Mulla, the entry of the US-based “Anthropic” has caused massive confusion among their existing customers, and they aren’t backing down until they get recognition for being the original users of the brand.
The Trademark Twist and the ₹1 Crore Claim
Here is where the situation gets tricky for the legal teams involved. While the Indian firm is seeking ₹1 crore in damages, their trademark status is technically “pending.” Now, you might think that means they have no case, but Indian law often protects “prior use.” This means if a company can prove they were using a name first, they can still win even without a registered trademark. If the court decides to side with the local firm, we might see the US giant forced to operate under a completely different name in India—sort of like how some global car brands have to change their names to enter specific markets.
What Happens Next: February 16 is the Big Date
The court already met once on January 20, and while they didn’t force the AI giant to stop its operations immediately, the pressure is mounting. The next big date to watch is February 16, where the court will decide the next steps. To make matters even more stressful for the US team, their AI Safety Lead, Mrinak Sharma, just announced his departure this week. He’s taking a break from the industry, leaving a massive leadership gap right as the company hits this legal firestorm in India.
Why It Matters
This is a massive wake-up call for global tech firms. It shows that you can’t just assume a “cool” name is available everywhere just because you’re a billion-dollar company. If Anthropic loses this, the logistical nightmare of changing URLs and marketing materials in one of the world’s biggest tech hubs will be a huge setback for their 2026 goals.
