Belagavi commercial court issues fresh summons to Anthropic PBC in connection with a trademark suit filed by Karnataka-based company Anthropic Softwares
The US-based AI company Anthropic PBC has landed in legal trouble due to a trademark issue with a Karnataka-based software startup company- Anthropic Softwares. Anthropic Softwares Pvt Ltd./ Technologies LLP is a company in Karnataka that is said to have been registered in 2017.
Why was the trademark suit filed?
Legal trouble brewing for US AI giant @AnthropicAI ?
An Indian software firm with the same name, started in 2017 in Belagavi, has moved court alleging confusion among clients & diversion of online traffic, court has issued summons to Anthropic to respond on March 9th. pic.twitter.com/vtVK3x87JB— Deepak Bopanna (@dpkBopanna) February 18, 2026
The trademark suit was filed by Anthropic Softwares alleging passing off and trademark violation. In the above interview, it is revealed that on AI-based platforms and standard Google search results, the US company’s name is prominently suggested in place of its name, which has led to confusion among users, customers and investors.
It is said that the customers are not able to reach the Karnataka-based company’s products or customer care service due to the confusion in names. Hence, Anthropic Softwares filed a trademark suit against Anthropic PBC demanding its legal rights.
In a report by Bar and Bench, it is revealed that on January 17, 2026, a commercial court in Belagavi passed an order permitting the suit to be filed without mandatory pre-institution mediation since urgent interim relief had been sought, but the court declined to grant an ex parte injunction due to lack of any imminent threat of infringement. Principal District and Sessions Judge Manjunath Nayak issued notice on the interim application and summons to Anthropic PBC for a hearing on 16th February.
Fresh summons sent to Anthropic PBC’s Bengaluru office
But no representative of the US-based company appeared for the hearing. Therefore, now fresh summons are ordered to be issued to the officers of the Anthropic PBC’s newly opened Bengaluru office, to appear for a hearing on 9th March.
