Bengaluru: Uber India, which provides one of the largest ride-hailing services, has landed in legal trouble over a viral advertisement featuring Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Australian cricketer Travis Head.
Another IPL franchise, Virat Kohli-headlined Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has moved the Delhi High Court against Uber alleging that it disparaged the franchise’s trademark in the YouTube ad titled ‘Baddies in Bengaluru’.
RCB has raised objection against the reference ‘Royally Challenged Bengaluru’ that has been used in the ad. RCB’s lawyer argued that Uber Moto, being the commercial sponsor of SRH, shouldn’t have used RCB’s trademark or a deceptively similar variant.
Calling the suit “preposterous”, Uber defended itself saying that the ad was covered by commercial free speech, and it cannot be injuncted, as RCB has sought.
The High Court has reserved its order on RCB’s application seeking an interim injunction.
In the 59-second ad, Head — referred to as a ‘Hyderabaddie’ — pulls off pranks on rival teams.
Dressed in a black shirt and formal jacket, and adorning gold chains, the dashing Australian opener and his ‘gang’ sneaks into a stadium ahead of a Bengaluru vs Hyderabad IPL match.
They vandalise the signage from ‘Bengaluru vs Hyderabad’ to ‘Royally Challenged Bengaluru vs Hyderabad’ with spray cans.
Watch the controversial ad here:
The Hyderabaddie is on a wicked mission. First stop, Bengaluru!😈
Catch him before he escapes on Uber Moto. Or book your own, and get a ride in just 3 minutes! 🏍️#UberMoto #TravisHead #Hyderabad #RideWithUber #Cricket #3Minutes pic.twitter.com/3dtbkyTvXO
— Uber India (@Uber_India) April 5, 2025
The video has amassed nearly 60 million views on Instagram.
Taking strong exception to the content, advocate Shwetasree Majumder, who appeared in court for RCB, said reactions to the video leave make it clear that Uber was attacking RCB.
“You had millions of creative ways to do advertisements. Did you have to do it using my trademark? And using someone who was earlier with me?” the advocate said, referring to Head who earlier played for RCB.
Uber’s counsel countered by saying that RCB had a “severely discounted” sense of humour.
“In the past, teams have challenged RCB and there have been media articles saying RCB has been royally challenged in matches,” he argued.
He further claimed that Head was not calling RCB ‘baddies’ in the ad, but only suggesting that he would give the team a headache during their match.
