The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise has approached the Delhi High Court against Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd, alleging trademark infringement and brand disparagement in a recent online advertisement.
The controversy centers around Uber Moto’s promotional video titled “Baddies in Bengaluru ft. Travis Head”, which features Sunrisers Hyderabad player Travis Head. In the ad, Head is seen approaching the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and altering a banner that reads “Bengaluru Vs Hyderabad” to “Royally Challenged Bengaluru” with spray paint — a move RCB claims is a deliberate mockery of their brand.
Representing RCB, senior counsel Abhishek Malhotra argued that Uber, as a known sponsor of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team, used the franchise’s trademark — or a confusingly similar version of it — in a derogatory manner. The counsel emphasized that such use not only infringes on RCB’s intellectual property rights but also constitutes disparagement and harms the brand’s reputation.
Uber’s legal representatives countered the claims by stating the advertisement was intended to be humorous and light-hearted, reflective of typical IPL banter. They further asserted that viewers are capable of distinguishing satire from serious content and that the phrase used in the video does not directly use RCB’s official trademark.
The High Court bench, presided over by Justice Saurabh Banerjee, heard arguments from both sides and has reserved its judgment on RCB’s plea seeking an interim injunction to stop the circulation of the advertisement.
The match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad is scheduled for May 13, 2025, in Bengaluru — a fixture expected to draw high viewership and fan engagement.
The disputed advertisement, which promotes Uber Moto services in the context of Bengaluru’s heavy match-day traffic, has already crossed 1.3 million views on YouTube and has generated significant buzz among cricket fans and social media users alike.
