The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that it was unwilling to engage in mediation with Delhi Press Patra Prakashan, the publisher of the iconic children’s magazine Champak, in a trademark dispute over the name of a robotic dog introduced during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.

The matter was heard by Justice Saurabh Banerjee, who listed the case for further hearing in September after directing the parties to complete their pleadings.

During the hearing, advocate Amit Gupta, appearing for Delhi Press, expressed openness to resolving the dispute amicably, especially as the IPL season had concluded.

“If they undertake not to use the name 'Champak' in the next IPL season, we won’t pursue the case,” Gupta submitted, adding that Delhi Press was also open to mediation.

However, BCCI’s counsel, advocate Tanmay Mehta, rejected the proposal. He argued that multiple commercial considerations were involved in using the name and that the BCCI could not provide any such undertaking.

Mehta further alleged that the lawsuit was motivated by financial interests, accusing Delhi Press of using the case to pressure BCCI into a monetary settlement. He added that he would present a case against the publisher during the proceedings.

The trademark row arose after the robotic dog — a marketing feature introduced during IPL — was named Champak following fan voting on April 23. Delhi Press has claimed that the use of the name constitutes unauthorised commercial exploitation and infringes its registered trademark.

The Court, however, questioned how the use of “Champak” in this context amounted to commercial exploitation or provided any unfair advantage. In response, Gupta argued that the unauthorised use diluted the magazine’s brand, even though the pleadings lacked a specific claim to that effect.

The Court also drew a comparison with cricketer Virat Kohli, known by the nickname 'Chiku', and questioned why no similar action was taken in that case. Gupta clarified that Kohli had not launched any product under that name, unlike the IPL’s robotic dog, which was being promoted as part of the league's marketing strategy.

Advocate Kanu Agrawal also appeared for BCCI alongside Mehta.

The Court will now hear the matter in September after completion of the pleadings by both sides.