IPL’s ‘Robot Dog Champak’ Lands BCCI in Legal Trouble Over Trademark Row
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Delhi High Court issues notice after children’s magazine Champak alleges trademark infringement.
In a surprising off-field twist to the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been dragged into a legal dispute over the name of its newly introduced robotic dog — “Champak.”
The Delhi-based publisher of the popular children’s magazine Champak, Delhi Press Patra Prakashan, has filed a lawsuit in the Delhi High Court, alleging that BCCI’s use of the name “Champak” for the robotic dog violates its registered trademark.
The robotic dog, designed to resemble a playful pet, has been interacting with players and entertaining fans during the IPL. It was named “Champak” reportedly through a fan voting process and officially introduced on April 23.
During a hearing, Justice Sourabh Banerjee issued a notice to BCCI and asked pointed questions about the alleged infringement. Advocate Amit Gupta, representing the publisher, argued that Champak is a well-known magazine among children, featuring animal characters, and that the BCCI’s usage dilutes its brand and is unauthorized commercial exploitation.
When asked what harm had been caused, Gupta responded that the name’s use in a high-profile commercial event like the IPL constitutes dilution and unauthorized use of a trademark. He emphasized that even if the product—a robotic dog—was distinct, the very name “Champak” was enough to create brand confusion and loss of distinctiveness.
The court also raised a parallel example, referencing “Chiku,” a nickname for cricketer Virat Kohli and also a character from the Champak magazine. Noting that no legal action was ever taken over Kohli’s nickname, the court questioned why a different standard was being applied in the robotic dog’s case.
Gupta replied that nicknames given by the public differ from the commercial launch of products under trademarked names. “If Kohli launched a product named Chiku, that would be commercial exploitation,” he added.
The Plaintiff’s trademark “CHAMPAK” has been in uninterrupted, exclusive, and extensive use since 1968, associated with the Plaintiff’s well-known and beloved magazine/comic series “Champak”. Due to its prolonged use, the Plaintiff’s mark “CHAMPAK” has gained significant reputation, goodwill, and a unique association in the minds of consumers, especially among children and their parents.
On the other side, senior advocate J. Sai. Deepak, appearing for BCCI, argued that “Champak” is a common word—also the name of a flower—and not necessarily exclusive to the magazine. He also pointed out that the robotic dog was more closely tied to a character from a television show rather than the publication.
While the court issued notice to BCCI, it did not find sufficient grounds for an ex parte interim injunction at this stage. The next hearing is scheduled for July 9.
