New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has received a legal notice from the Delhi High Court after naming the IPL’s robot dog mascot ‘Champak’ — a move that has triggered a trademark infringement lawsuit by a well-known children’s magazine.
Delhi Press, the publisher of Champak — a popular children’s magazine in circulation since 1968 — filed a petition alleging that the BCCI’s use of the name “Champak” violates its registered trademark and damages the brand’s reputation. The petitioner is seeking Rs 2 crore in damages under defamation and trademark misuse.
The robot dog gained visibility during the ongoing IPL 2024 season, appearing on the field alongside team captains during the toss. On April 20, the IPL officially named the mascot ‘Champak’ following a fan vote, according to organisers.
In its petition, Delhi Press argued that the BCCI’s unauthorised use of the name misleads the public and weakens the magazine’s brand identity, which has been associated with children’s literature for over five decades.
Justice Saurabh Banerjee, who heard the matter, has issued a notice to the BCCI and directed the board to submit a written response within four days. The next hearing has been scheduled for July 9.
The robot dog, operated by remote control, was first introduced during the April 13 match between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians. IPL organisers stated that the name ‘Champak’ was selected after it received the most votes in an online poll.
The outcome of the case may set a precedent for intellectual property rights in the context of digital mascots and brand names in Indian sports entertainment.