Anthropic’s India expansion collides with a local company that already had the name

As Anthropic expands its presence in India, a domestic software company has initiated legal action, stating that it has long operated under the name "Anthropic." The dispute highlights how fast-paced global expansion by artificial intelligence firms can sometimes conflict with businesses that have already established themselves locally.

The complaint arrives as Anthropic strengthens its operations in India. The company announced the opening of an office in the country last October and recently appointed Irina Ghose, previously managing director of Microsoft India, to lead its Indian operations. The development underscores the growing importance of the South Asian market for AI companies seeking to expand beyond North America and Europe.

According to a complaint filed in January in a commercial court in Karnataka, Anthropic Software, an Indian firm, states that it has used the name "Anthropic" since 2017. The company maintains that Anthropic's entry into the Indian market has confused customers. In its filing, Anthropic Software seeks formal recognition of its prior use of the name in India and requests measures to reduce further confusion. The complaint also includes a claim for damages of ₹10 million, approximately $110,000.

Mohammad Ayyaz Mulla, founder and director of Anthropic Software, stated that the company is not seeking to escalate tensions but rather to secure acknowledgement and clarity regarding its established identity in India. He explained that legal proceedings were initiated as a safeguard measure in case a mutually agreeable resolution could not be reached.

"At present, I am asserting my legal rights because the situation is causing significant confusion among my customers," Mulla said.

India, currently the world's most populous nation and one of the fastest-growing internet markets, has become an increasingly important region for AI companies such as Anthropic and its competitor OpenAI. The country is also preparing to host an AI Impact Summit in New Delhi next week, where Anthropic co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei is scheduled to appear alongside major technology leaders, including Sam Altman, Jensen Huang, and Sundar Pichai.

A court order dated January 20 indicates that the Karnataka court has issued notice and summons in the suit filed against Anthropic. However, the court declined to issue an interim injunction at this stage and has scheduled the case for further hearing on February 16.