As Anthropic establishes its presence in India, a domestic software firm has initiated legal action by filing a court complaint, asserting that it was already operating under the name “Anthropic.” This situation highlights the potential for friction when AI companies rapidly expand worldwide and encounter established local businesses.

The legal filing coincides with Anthropic’s intensified efforts in the Indian market. The company announced the opening of an India office last October and recently appointed Irina Ghose, former managing director of Microsoft India, to oversee its operations there. These moves underscore the increasing strategic importance of the South Asian market for global AI firms looking beyond the U.S. and Europe.

The local company, Anthropic Software, is seeking legal acknowledgment of its prior use of the name and measures to prevent further market confusion. It is also claiming damages of ₹10 million, approximately $110,000. Mohammadayyaz A., founder and director of Anthropic Software, explained the action, stating, “As of now, I am exercising my legal right as it’s causing huge confusion to my customers.”

India, with its status as the world’s most populous nation and one of its fastest-growing internet markets, has emerged as a critical arena for leading AI companies, including Anthropic and its competitor OpenAI. The country’s significance is further emphasized by its upcoming hosting of an AI Impact Summit in New Delhi next week. The event will feature Anthropic co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei alongside other prominent industry figures such as Sam Altman, Jensen Huang, and Sundar Pichai.

In response to the complaint, the court has declined to issue an interim injunction at this stage. It has scheduled the matter to be revisited on February 16. Requests for comment on the situation from Anthropic were not answered.