Explained: Why is IPL 2025 Robot Pet Dog 'Champak' in Legal Trouble? Find Out Details

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has witnessed several innovations, but one unexpected development has taken a legal turn. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) finds itself in a copyright dispute over the name of its robotic pet dog 'Champak', which has become a familiar sight during match broadcasts.

The legal action has been initiated by Delhi Press, a prominent publishing house known for its popular children's magazine Champak. The robotic dog, named 'Champak', was introduced as part of IPL's broadcasting coverage on April 13 during the match between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians.

The robot has since become a recurring feature, engaging fans and even delivering the coin at tosses. While the robot's presence on the field has intrigued viewers, its name has landed the BCCI in hot water.

Delhi Press, which publishes Champak magazine-a staple in Indian children's literature since 1969-has claimed trademark infringement. Represented by advocate Amit Gupta, the publisher has sued the BCCI in the Delhi High Court, arguing that the cricket board used the name 'Champak' without authorisation and in a way that amounts to commercial exploitation.

"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.

The trademark case was heard by Justice Saurabh Banerjee, who declined to pass an interim injunction at this stage. The next hearing is scheduled for July 9, where the matter will be revisited in greater depth.

In its defence, the BCCI has argued that the name 'Champak' was inspired not by the magazine, but by a character from the hit television show Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. Senior advocate J Sai Deepak, representing BCCI, said the robotic dog's name alludes to 'Champaklal Jayantilal Gada', a character from the series portrayed by actor Amit Bhatt.

Interestingly, the court proceedings also included a question from the judge regarding why Delhi Press never took legal action against cricketer Virat Kohli, who is affectionately nicknamed "Chiku", a name also linked to a character from the Champak magazine. Advocate Gupta clarified that Kohli had not commercialised the nickname, whereas the BCCI's use of 'Champak' for a branded AI pet during a commercial sports tournament warranted legal scrutiny.

The name of the robot was finalised through an IPL fan poll held during the 33rd match of the tournament between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians. 'Champak' received a resounding 76% of the votes, ahead of other options like Buddy (10%), Chulbul (7%), and Jaffa (7%).

While the court deliberates on whether this case constitutes trademark infringement or harmless homage, one thing is clear: IPL's newest mascot, 'Champak', has become more than just a robot dog-it's now at the center of a battle over branding rights.