The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has landed in legal trouble over the name of its newly introduced robotic pet dog, ‘Champak’, used during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) broadcast. Delhi Press, publisher of the iconic children’s magazine Champak, has filed a lawsuit in the Delhi High Court alleging trademark infringement.
The robotic dog, unveiled as part of IPL 2025’s broadcast innovation, became a regular feature during match coverage, most notably delivering the coin during toss ceremonies. Its name, Champak, was selected via an online fan poll conducted during the 33rd match of the season between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians. The name won with 76% of the votes, beating other options like Buddy, Chulbul, and Jaffa.
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Delhi Press’ Allegation
Represented by advocate Amit Gupta, Delhi Press contended that Champak is a registered trademark associated with its popular children’s magazine, which has been in publication for decades. Gupta argued that the BCCI, by naming the AI-driven robotic dog Champak, is commercially exploiting the brand without permission.
“This AI tool has been named as Champak. The IPL has been going on. The product was introduced earlier but it was named later on April 23, purportedly based on fan voting,” Gupta told the court, emphasizing the unauthorized usage of the trademark.
BCCI’s Defence
Senior advocate J Sai Deepak, appearing for the BCCI, countered the claims by stating that the name ‘Champak’ was not inspired by the magazine but by Champaklal Jayantilal Gada, a beloved character from the television series Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, portrayed by actor Amit Bhatt. He argued that the usage was not an infringement of the magazine’s trademark.
Court Proceedings
Justice Saurabh Banerjee, while hearing the plea, refused to grant an interim injunction to Delhi Press. During the proceedings, the judge questioned the selectivity of the lawsuit, humorously asking why a case wasn’t filed against Virat Kohli for being nicknamed “Chiku” – a character also appearing in the Champak magazine.
Gupta responded that Kohli had not launched a commercial product under that name, unlike BCCI’s pet robot initiative, which the publisher sees as a case of commercial exploitation.
The Delhi High Court has scheduled the next hearing for July 9, giving both parties more time to submit detailed arguments.
The case has sparked interest due to the convergence of sports, media, and intellectual property, especially as IPL continues to innovate its digital and broadcast experiences.
