The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) finds itself in an unexpected legal tussle, not over cricket but a robotic dog named ‘Champak.’
Delhi Press Patra Prakashan Pvt Ltd, publishers of the beloved children’s magazine Champak, has filed a trademark infringement suit against the BCCI in the Delhi High Court, accusing the cricket board of unlawfully using their brand name for an AI-powered robotic dog introduced in the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025).
The controversy erupted after the BCCI, in collaboration with wTVision and Omnicam, unveiled Champak, a four-legged robotic camera, in the middle of the ongoing IPL season. Equipped with a head-mounted camera and a custom-built gimbal system, Champak has become a fan favourite, capturing unique sideline visuals and engaging with players like MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, and even cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, whose playful interaction with the robot went viral.
The name, however, was chosen through an IPL fan poll, where Champak secured a resounding 76 percent of the votes, far ahead of Buddy (10 percent), Chulbul (7 percent), and Jaffa (7 percent).
Arguments of BCCI and Delhi Press on Champak Row
Advocate Amit Gupta, representing Delhi Press, argued that the BCCI’s use of the name Champak constitutes a clear violation of their registered trademark.
"Champak (robotic dog) as an entertainment feature during IPL matches, which are broadcast nationwide to over 20 crore viewers, resulted in irreparable harm to the plaintiff by diluting its well-established brand, tarnishing its goodwill, and unjustly enriching themselves. This constitutes dilution by way of tarnishment, causing injury to the distinctiveness and positive public perception painstakingly built by the plaintiff over decades," the plea said.
The BCCI, represented by Senior Advocate J Sai Deepak, hit back, asserting that Champak is not an exclusive or invented name, citing an example of a character in the popular TV show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
"Champak magazine is not the only entity using ‘Champak’. In the public domain, the name Champak is used for different characters – in series – Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. None has associated the name with the magazine but a character," the BCCI advocate said as quoted.
Justice Saurabh Banerjee, acknowledging the magazine’s long-standing brand identity, observed that Champak had been an existing brand name since eternity but questioned the immediate harm caused by BCCI’s use.
The judge questioned why the publisher did not sue Virat Kohli, whose nickname ‘Chiku’, resembling another popular magazine character, has been widely used. Advocate Amit Gupta clarified that the cricketer has not launched a product, unlike the BCCI.
While the court declined to issue an ex parte injunction to halt the robotic dog’s name usage, it issued a notice to the BCCI, directing them to file a written response. The next hearing is scheduled for July 9.
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