IPL 2025: RCB drags Uber to Court over an Objectionable Ad Video featuring Travis Head
The Indian Premier League 2025 has been seeing some interesting drama on the field for past few weeks now, with players creating some thrilling scenes through their aggression and fun banter.
In the latest turn of events, a promotional advertisement video has been recently shot and shared by commercial vehicle service company, Uber India Systems Pvt. Ltd. The advertisement shows Australian national and Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting sensation Travis Head entering a stadium’s logistics room and spray-painting the words ‘Royal Challengers Bangalore’, a deliberate distortion of the official name.
The RCB management claims this advertisement is an act of disparagement and trademark misuse. The principal owner, Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd, has moved the Delhi high court against Uber India Systems Pvt. Ltd, alleging unauthorized use and distortion of one of its popular slogans in an advertisement promoting bike-taxi service.
The lawsuit challenges the content and intent of the ad, called as ‘Baddies in Bengaluru’. This video has gone viral all over the social media and even gathered more than 1.3 million views on YouTube so far.
The petitioner’s counsel argued that the franchise holds a registered trademark for the name RCB and the slogan ‘Ee Sala Cup Namde’.
Though the ad avoids using the complete team’s name and labels the content as “Bengaluru vs Hyderabad”, RCB’s legal team stated that the comparison and relation to its name is unmistakable.
In response to the legal matter, Uber’s counsel has objected to the claims and firmly believes that RCB team has purposely undermined the general sense of humour. It has positioned the ad as a lighthearted campaign which is set in the context of the 13 May IPL clash, set to take place between RCB and SRH.
IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru sues Uber Moto before Delhi High Court over allegedly disparaging YouTube ad featuring Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Travis Head.
Order reserved on interim injunction application. pic.twitter.com/sobCYIwKW6
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) April 17, 2025
As far as Travis Head’s role is concerned, the counsel clarified that the player introduces himself as a fictional character, which is intended to metaphorically suggest that Sunrisers Hyderabad will royally challenge RCB in the upcoming match.
As per the media publications, the court reserved its judgment on RCB’s plea for an interim injunction.
Uber’s counsel said, “The case is covered by commercial free speech which cannot be injuncted.” RCB’s lawyer panel has stated that there was no problem with engaging in humour, but cannot be done in a way that it takes a reputed brand’s trademark, which is commercially valuable to the IPL team.
Since the matter is currently subjudice, the final decision in this matter is pending. Whether the RCB side emerges victorious or SRH is able to fight it out, is for the experts to decide.
