Anthropic’s expansion into India clashes with a local company that already carries the name

As Anthropic expands into India, a local software company filed a lawsuit saying it was already using the name “Anthropic,” highlighting how the rapid global push of AI companies could clash with incumbent local companies.

The introduction comes amid Anthropic deepening its focus on India, announcing an office in India last October, and recently appointing former Microsoft India managing director Irina Ghose to lead its operations in the country, underscoring the growing importance of the South Asia market for global AI companies expanding beyond the US and Europe.

In a complaint filed with a Karnataka commercial court in January, reviewed by TechCrunch, Indian company Anthropic Software says it has used the name since 2017 and that Anthropic’s recent entry into India has led to customer confusion. The company is seeking recognition for its past use and damages to prevent further confusion, along with damages worth INR 10 million (about US$110,000).

Anthropic Software Founder and Director, Mohammadiyaz A. Mulla, told TechCrunch that the Indian company is not seeking confrontation, but rather clarity and recognition of its past use in India, adding that litigation was a step back if clean coexistence could not be achieved.

“For now, I am exercising my legal right because it is causing great confusion for my clients,” he said.

India, the world’s most populous country and one of the fastest-growing internet markets, has become a major battleground for AI companies like Anthropic and its rival OpenAI. The country is also scheduled to host the AI ​​Impact Summit in New Delhi next week, where Dario Amodei, co-founder and CEO of Anthropic, will appear alongside other industry leaders such as Sam Altman, Jensen Huang, and Sundar Pichai.

A court order dated January 20 seen by TechCrunch shows that the court issued a notice and summons of claim to Anthropic. However, it refused to grant an interim injunction and listed the matter to return on 16 February.

Anthropic did not respond to a request for comment.