The Delhi High Court has refused to grant ex-parte interim relief to Delhi Press Patra Prakashan, the publisher of the children's magazine Champak, in a trademark infringement suit filed against the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

The dispute arose over the naming of a robotic dog ‘Champak’ introduced during the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Justice Saurabh Banerjee, while issuing notice to BCCI, observed that the plaintiff’s case lacked specific pleadings of unfair advantage or commercial exploitation. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on July 9.

The publisher alleged that the BCCI's use of the name ‘Champak’ for its AI-powered robotic dog, which was named following a fan vote in April, infringes its registered trademark. Advocate Amit Gupta, representing the publisher, argued that Champak is a widely recognised magazine among children and is known for its animal characters. He contended that naming the IPL mascot after the magazine dilutes the brand and causes harm, especially in a high-profile commercial setting like the IPL.

When the Court questioned the actual extent of harm or commercial misuse, Gupta maintained that unauthorized use of the trademark in any monetized environment amounts to infringement. He also distinguished the case from the nickname ‘Chiku’ associated with cricketer Virat Kohli, stating that colloquial use differs from branding a commercial product.

On behalf of the BCCI, Senior Advocate J Sai Deepak countered that ‘Champak’ is a common word and also the name of a flower. He argued that the robotic dog was inspired by a television show character and not by the children's magazine.

Finding no prima facie case for urgent relief, the Court declined to pass an interim injunction and directed the parties to return on July 9 for further proceedings.