With the IPL season heating up and advertisers scrambling to ride the wave, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has taken a legal swing at Uber, dragging the ride-hailing giant to the Delhi High Court. The complaint? RCB claims Uber’s latest ad—promoting its Uber Moto service—tarnishes the team’s image and exploits its trademark without permission.
According to the team’s legal representatives, Uber, a commercial sponsor of rival franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), crossed the line by parodying RCB’s name in a way that’s both unauthorized and potentially damaging.
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The spotlight ad features SRH star Travis Head, who previously played for RCB, spray-painting a match banner to read “Royally Challenged Bengaluru vs Hyderabad,” poking fun at the team. RCB’s counsel, Shwetasree Majumder, argued that this wasn’t just cheeky banter—it was an intentional swipe that undermines the team’s brand and dilutes its trademark.
Justice Saurabh Banerjee, after a detailed hearing, chose not to deliver an immediate ruling but reserved his decision on whether the ad should be temporarily blocked. While stopping short of outright criticism, the judge did note that the ad’s wide availability on YouTube could lead to unintended reputational damage, stating there appeared to be “something” that warranted adjustment.
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The courtroom now waits as both sides brace for what could be a defining call on where sports marketing ends—and trademark misuse begins.
