Anthropic India Private Limited (AIPL), an artificial intelligence (AI) company, has said that it is a separate legal entity distinct from the U.S.-based Anthropic PBC.
Submitting documents to support its arguments before the Principal District and Commercial Court in Belagavi on Tuesday (June 9, 2026), AIPL distanced itself from Anthropic PBC.
This was part of the hearing in the trademark violation case filed by Belagavi-based IT start up Anthropic Softwares Private Limited (ASPL).
The advocates of AIPL Managing Director Irina Ghose filed papers saying that it was a distinct legal entity incorporated in India and cannot be impleaded in the present suit. The company argued that the allegations in the case were directed only against Anthropic PBC and that AIPL had no legal or operational nexus warranting its inclusion in the proceedings.
The court adjourned the matter to July 6.
ASPL has instituted the suit alleging infringement and passing off, naming both Anthropic PBC and its Indian affiliate as parties. While summons have been issued to both defendants, procedural constraints have delayed serving the summons on the US-based entity.
In its objection, AIPL asserted that the plaintiff’s claims seek relief against Anthropic PBC alone and that the attempt to array the Indian subsidiary as a party is legally untenable. It further dismissed as “baseless and speculative” the allegations that AIPL is engaged in promoting or advancing the commercial interests of Anthropic PBC in India.
The Belagavi-based startup has sought a temporary injunction on the grounds of prior use, claiming continuous operation in the Indian IT sector since its incorporation in 2017. It has contended that Anthropic PBC, incorporated in California in 2021, entered the market subsequent to ASPL’s established presence, thereby giving rise to a claim of prior rights over the disputed brand identity, according to a release by Mohammad Mulla, ASPL founder.
Published – June 10, 2026 10:45 am IST
