Anthropic PBC admits India arm is subsidiary in Belagavi brand dispute

Belagavi: US-based AI company Anthropic PBC has told a Belagavi court that Bengaluru-based Anthropic India Pvt Ltd is its subsidiary, a disclosure that could influence an ongoing brand dispute with Belagavi-based Anthropic Softwares Pvt Ltd.The statement was filed before the 8th Additional District and Sessions Court, Belagavi, on Monday. The case, initiated in January 2026, concerns rights to the “Anthropic” brand name. Anthropic Softwares had alleged that Anthropic India projected itself as a separate legal entity with no connection to the US parent, forcing the plaintiff to serve summons on Anthropic PBC in the US. The process took nearly four months before the American company appeared before the court.In its latest written submission, Anthropic PBC acknowledged that Anthropic India Pvt Ltd is its subsidiary. The filing also referred to a meeting in Aug 2026 between a delegation led by Anthropic India managing director Irina Ghose and Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar. According to the statement, Karnataka govt had explored possibilities of enabling secure access to govt datasets for developing AI-powered public solutions while ensuring data sovereignty and residency requirements.During arguments, advocate MM Sheikh, representing the plaintiff, said the admission contradicted the earlier position that the Indian entity was independent of the US company. He alleged that the subsidiary’s earlier claims had prolonged the litigation and created procedural hurdles.Sheikh opposed Anthropic PBC’s challenge to the Belagavi court’s jurisdiction, arguing that a company with global operations could not selectively dispute jurisdiction where its activities had commercial implications. He further submitted that Anthropic Softwares Pvt Ltd, established in 2017, had built goodwill under the Anthropic brand in India and overseas before Anthropic PBC, founded in 2021, commenced its India operations in 2024.Judge RP Gowda adjourned the matter to Nov 13 for further proceedings.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.