IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has issued a legal notice against Uber, the popular cab booking platform, as they believe that the latter made an attempt to ridicule the name of the franchise in a recent ad. RCB, in fact, moved to the Delhi High Court with their allegations against Uber.
The ad features SRH batter Travis Head, who is promoting himself as a "Hyderabaddie." He is seen entering a stadium with one of his mates and damaging the name of the franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru with spray paint.
The video further shows Head and his mate running away from the stadium after spraying paint on the team name and changing it from Royal Challengers Bangalore to "Royally Challenged Bengaluru vs Hyderabad."
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Uber's Ad Featuring Travis Head Ahead Of RCB Encounter
The ad is very much a build-up to the RCB vs SRH game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on May 13. However, the RCB counsel argued that it was made with the intent to hurt the "Royal Challengers Bengaluru" and the slogan “Ee Sala Cup Namde” — meaning “This year, the cup is ours”. He further said that the ad was an attempt to mock the franchise and its symbolic chant.
“This is a targeted attempt to mock and dilute the identity of Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The team’s supporters, they claimed, have expressed widespread offence, while others have used the ad to ridicule RCB online — amplifying reputational harm," the counsel submitted.
Uber, on their part, defended themselves by saying that the franchise completely misunderstood the ad and questioned their sense of humor.
"RCB has severely and massively underestimated the Indian public’s sense of humour — including that of their own fanbase" Uber's lawyer stated.
After hearing the statements from both parties, the court announced the decision in RCB's favor. Uber's counsel, on his part, asked the franchise to understand funny connotations and termed the complaint as preposterous.
“This is open to interpretation. I am being open. The moment you ask a person, a layman or a court to see the ad and decipher, I can form or have an opinion which is different than yours. There lies the issue of injunction,” the judge remarked verbally.
“The case is covered by commercial free speech which cannot be injuncted. RCB should combat humour with humour, not with a lawsuit" Uber's counsel said on his part.
With the judgment given by the court, it will be interesting to see whether Australian cricketer Travis Head has to bear any consequences.
