As Anthropic expands into India, a local software company filed a lawsuit saying it was already using the name “Anthropic” and highlighted how the rapid global push from AI firms could clash with local incumbents.
The filing comes as Anthropic deepens its focus on India, announcing an India office last October and recently appointing former Microsoft India CEO Irina Ghose to lead its operations in the country, underscoring the growing importance of the South Asian market for global AI companies expanding beyond the US and Europe.
India’s Anthropic Software says in a complaint filed in a Karnataka commercial court in January, reviewed by TechCrunch, that it has been using the name since 2017 and that Anthropic’s recent entry into India has led to customer confusion. The firm is seeking recognition of its prior use and relief to prevent further confusion, along with ₹10 million (about US$110,000) in damages.
Anthropic Software founder and director Mohammadayyaz A. Mulla told TechCrunch that the Indian company is not seeking confrontation, but clarity and recognition of its prior use in India, adding that litigation is a fallback if clean coexistence cannot be achieved.
“I am exercising my legal right from now on because this is causing huge confusion for my customers,” he said.
India, the world’s most populous country and one of the fastest growing internet markets, has become a key battleground for AI companies such as Anthropic and its rival OpenAI. The country is also set to host an AI Impact Summit in New Delhi next week, where Anthropic co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei will appear alongside other industry leaders such as Sam Altman, Jensen Huang and Sundar Pichai.
A January 20 court order seen by TechCrunch shows that the court issued the notice and subpoenas to Anthropic. However, he refused to grant an interim injunction and ordered the matter to return on February 16.
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Antropic did not respond to a request for comment.