The BCCI filed a lawsuit after naming the IPL robotic dog ‘Champak’ – everything you have to know

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought reactions from the BCCI on a petition filed by the publishers of the famous Children’s Comic Book Champak, alleging trademark violations on the IPL, naming its AI-Interested Robotic Dog “Champak”. Justice Saurabh Banerjee noticed that the name of the Champak brand was present since eternity and asked the Control Board for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) to record a written statement in response to the petition within four weeks. The court posted the hearing on 9 July.

The plaintiff’s lawyer also prayed that the defendants should be given an interim security by directing the mark not to use the mark.

However, the court did not pass any interim order at this level.

Delhi Press Patra Prakashan Private Limited said in the High Court, saying that it has been publishing Champak magazine since 1968.

The 18th session of the IPL is currently underway and will end on May 25, 2025.

During one of the matches, BCCI and IPL called AI-based robotic dog and 20 April called it “Champak”.

Advocate Amit Gupta represented the publisher, saying that the robotic dog “Champak” was named for violation of its registered trademark as well as commercial exploitation as Champak was a famous mark.

He said that during the IPL matches, “Champak” (Robotic Dog), which is broadcast across the country for more than 200 million spectators during the IPL matches, resulted in the altar, by diluting his well -established brand, made his goodwill liquid, and unjustly enriched himself.

The petition stated, “This causes weakening through tornminds, causing pain to the specificity and positive public perception created by the plaintiffs for decades.”

Senior advocate Ji Sai Deepak, who appeared for BCCI, said Champak said that Champak was the name of a flower and people combine robotic dogs with the character of a TV series and not with the magazine.

The argument filed through advocates Mansi Kukreja, Kshitik Vaibhav and Maskan Nagpal said that the surname of former captain of the Indian cricket team Virat Kohli is, Chiku, and in one of an interview, in one of the interviews, he told himself that his surname was given on the basis of the character that appears in the champion magazine.

“People in all styles are identified with the word Champak, especially with the plaintiff and his magazines and animal characters who focus on the magazine. It is reiterated that even Virat Kohli’s surname, which is Chiku, is based on the character of the plaintiff, is based on the character of Champak,” said.

The judge then said that the publisher did not choose to proceed against Kohli for his surname for the name of a character in Champak magazine.

Justice Banerjee said, “When did you come to know about it? It is one of the characters of Champak. But you did not proceed against him, you have not initiated any action against him.”

For this, the lawyer said on the basis of a comic book or a special character in any TV series and films, people usually nickname them close and dear.

Gupta said, “Today my issue is the use of the word Champak which is my registered trademark.”

When the court asked to show how the violation was done, the plaintiff’s lawyer said the IPL is a commercial venture with “advertising, marketing and earnings”.

Callil said the robotic dog was named after an alleged pole process on social media, which supported the name Champaka due to the existing goodwill and recognition of the brand of the plaintiff.

The petition claimed that the defendants of “Champaka” continued continuing publicity in various media platforms including news outlets and social media, increasing the damage to the rights of the plaintiff.

Therefore, the publisher urged the court to prevent the BCCI and IPL from violating their trademarks and demanded Rs 2 crore for losses for the loss of “uniqueness, goodwill, prestige, weakness and loss” due to its trademark.

(This story is not edited by NDTV employees and auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)