“This AI tool [robotic dog] 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 submitted, adding there are regular reports about this ‘robotic dog’ in the media.
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought responses from the BCCI on a plea filed by the publishers of renowned children’s comic book Champak alleging trademark infringement over the IPL naming its AI-powered robotic dog “Champak”. Justice Saurabh Banerjee observed the Champak brand name was existing since eternity and asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Indian Premier League (IPL) to file written statements in response to the plea within four weeks. The court posted the hearing on July 9.
plaintiff’s counsel also prayed that an interim protection be granted to him by directing the defendants not to use the mark.
The court, however, did not pass any interim order at this stage.
Delhi Press Patra Prakashan Pvt Ltd moved the high court, saying it has been publishing Champak magazine since 1968.
The 18th session of the IPL is currently underway and will end on May 25, 2025.
During one of the matches, BCCI and IPL introduced a AI-generated robotic dog and on April 20, calling it “Champak”.
Advocate Amit Gupta, representing the publisher, said naming the robotic dog “Champak” amounted to infringement of its registered trademark and also commercial exploitation as Champak was a well known mark.
The robot dog was launched this IPL season as part of the league’s marketing and production push. Developed by global broadcast technology company wTVision in collaboration with Omnicam and the BCCI, the high-tech robotic dog was first seen during a Mumbai Indians versus Delhi Capitals match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi earlier in April. Its interactive antics sparked widespread excitement among fans and broadcasters.
This robotic dog can carry a payload of around 14kg, and has been mounted with multiple cameras that provide a ‘dog’s eye view’ of the field of play.
IPL 2025 Robo-Dog explained: Is it a robot? A dog? A robotic dog? You would have seen it by now before the start of IPL matches over the past week. A mechanical creature that stands between the two captains before they take the field for the start of play. A fan poll suggested it should be called ‘Champak’, and not ‘Chulbul’, ‘Buddy’ or ‘Jaffa’.
