New Delhi, Feb 19 (NationPress) During the ongoing 'India AI Impact Summit', Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei described India as a key player in the global arena. In light of this, startup founder Mohammad Ayyaz Mulla, who established Anthropic Software in 2017, has reached out for government assistance to reclaim his brand name due to alleged trademark infringement, which has caused significant financial damage.

Mulla informed IANS that he registered Anthropic Software with the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs in 2017, and also became a part of the ‘Startup India’ initiative along with Startup Karnataka, both in the same year.

“We received government funding for one of our patented products and secured a patent in 2018. In 2021, we fulfilled an order for the government. Our focus lies in education technology, helping students from rural areas prepare for competitive exams,” he stated.

This week, a commercial court in Belagavi, Karnataka, issued new summons to the US-based AI firm Anthropic concerning a trademark infringement complaint raised by the Indian company over the name “Anthropic”.

The ruling was made by Principal District and Sessions Judge Manjunath Nayak, after representatives from the American firm failed to attend a previous court summons on February 16.

Belagavi's Anthropic Software is seeking a temporary injunction to prevent the US company from misrepresenting its affiliation by using the name “Anthropic” or any similar mark.

Mulla told IANS that on August 25 last year, they received a legal notice indirectly via their cloud vendor, instructing them to cease using the name Anthropic.

“We were asked to halt all services immediately. However, we replied that we are the legally registered entity and have adhered to all necessary protocols. After a month of discussions, they became silent,” he relayed.

Subsequently, the US Anthropic announced plans to enter the Indian market in December 2026.

In January, Anthropic appointed Irina Ghose as the Managing Director for India, gearing up to open its first office in the country. Recently, they announced the launch of a Bengaluru office, their second in Asia after Tokyo, with plans to recruit local talent for various roles.

Mulla emphasized that the confusion surrounding the name has led to significant financial losses for his company.

“Our web traffic is diverted to them, and when people search for Anthropic, they land on their site. We serve over 500 educational institutions. Our applications are widely used by students and parents alike,” he mentioned.

The next court hearing concerning the Anthropic case is scheduled for March 9.

“They should cease all activities connected to our name. That is why we have approached the court. For the startup ecosystem to thrive, the government must safeguard startup rights. I have complete faith in our judiciary and government,” Mulla concluded.