Islamabad, 17 April 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has sued Uber for trademark infringement and brand disparagement over a YouTube ad featuring Travis Head.
The Delhi High Court, after hearing arguments from both sides, has reserved its decision on RCB’s request for an interim injunction.
The dispute centers around a 59-second Uber Moto commercial titled “Baddies in Bengaluru ft. Travis Head”, which has garnered more than 1.3 million views.
The ad shows Head riding through Bengaluru and defacing a “Bengaluru vs. Hyderabad” banner to read “Royally Challenged” Bengaluru—a clear dig at RCB.
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Representing Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd., the legal counsel argued that the phrase “Royally Challenged” damages the team’s image and diminishes its commercial identity under the pretext of humor.
They maintained that the advertisement crosses the line from playful promotion into brand harm.
Uber, which sponsors the Sunrisers Hyderabad, defended the ad as light-hearted and argued it falls under the umbrella of commercial free speech.
Their counsel claimed the video uses harmless sporting banter and does not directly target RCB in a derogatory manner.
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They also pointed out that Travis Head did not call RCB “baddies” in the video but instead portrayed himself as someone looking to trouble the opposition—a pun linked to his surname.
After hearing the detailed submissions, the court decided to reserve its verdict for a later date.
The case has triggered broader conversations around the role of satire, rivalry, and freedom of expression in sports marketing, particularly within the high-stakes environment of the Indian Premier League.
While cricket fans await the on-field battle between RCB and SRH on May 13, the off-field legal fight adds another layer of intrigue to the contest.
