In an interesting twist off the cricket field, Mahendra Singh Dhoni revered for his calm demeanor and hailed as “Captain Cool”is now facing legal opposition for attempting to trademark that very moniker. A formal objection has been filed against Dhoni’s application to secure exclusive rights to the phrase “Captain Cool,” potentially thwarting one of his key brand identity efforts.
Background: Dhoni’s Trademark Move
MS Dhoni the former captain of the Indian cricket team and one of the best captains cricket has ever produced applied for trademarking that is “Captain Cool” in June 2023. The application has been made under Class 41 of the Trademarks Act 1999 for providing education, sports training, entertainment and cultural services.
After a two-year examination process, the Trade Marks Registry Office in Kolkata accepted and released the trademark in June 2025 by officially incorporating it into the Trademarks Journal on June 16, 2025. Indian trademark legislation allows interested parties to oppose or file an opposition within 120 days of publication.
Legal Opposition by KAnalysis Attorneys
The legal challenge comes from KAnalysis Attorneys, a Delhi-based intellectual property law firm, which filed its opposition citing several grounds:
- Lack of Commercial Documentation:
The company observed that Dhoni had first made the application on a “proposed to be used” basis, and subsequently amended it for use going back to 2008. Yet, documentary evidence such as invoices, advertising material, ads, or license agreements was not furnished to prove the mark’s commercial use in Class 41 services.
- Generic and Laudatory Nature:
According to the opposition, the nickname “Captain Cool” is too generic and descriptive to be trademarked. It is often used colloquially to describe calm and composed leaders not only in sports but in various contexts and was even used prior to Dhoni’s rise, including for players like Arjuna Ranatunga. - Procedural Irregularities at Registry:
The law firm further alleged procedural lapses on part of the Trademarks Registry, stating that earlier objections (called citations) from examiners had not been resolved. Moreover, mandatory rectification notices were not issued before the mark was advertised, which could amount to a technical breach of the process. - Failure to Establish Distinctiveness:
KAnalysis Attorneys argued that the term “Captain Cool,” even if associated with Dhoni by the public, does not automatically qualify for protection unless the applicant can demonstrate acquired distinctiveness through substantial use in the marketplace.
Why the Challenge Matters
The case brings to the fore a larger conversation around celebrity trademarks and public domain expressions. Can nicknames, even widely associated with a public figure, be reserved as exclusive intellectual property? The law atleast in India requires that trademarks must be distinctive not merely descriptive and should not monopolize expressions that are commonly used by the public.
Moreover, the case highlights how the lack of robust documentation or a trail of usage can weaken trademark claims even when the applicant enjoys high brand recall.
Next Legal Steps
Under Section 21 of the Trade Marks Act, 1999, after an opposition is made, the applicant (Dhoni here) will be required to submit a counterstatement within two months. Thereafter, the Registrar of Trademarks will hold proceedings which may involve evidence submission, hearings, and ultimately a ruling on whether the mark will be granted or refused.
The final outcome will depend on whether Dhoni can demonstrate:
- Concrete evidence of commercial use of “Captain Cool” in the relevant trademark class.
- That the term, despite being generic, has acquired a secondary meaning uniquely associated with him.
Similar Trademark Battles
This isn’t the first time a celebrity has run into legal trouble over a nickname. Cricketers and actors have previously tried to register titles or epithets such as “King Kohli,” “Thala,” or “Hitman.” In most cases, the success of such registrations depends on how commercially embedded the term is and whether it functions as a source identifier for goods or services.
Conclusion
While Dhoni’s stature in Indian cricket is unquestioned, the law applies equally to celebrities and ordinary individuals when it comes to trademarking rights. The ongoing opposition to the “Captain Cool” trademark will serve as a litmus test for how Indian IP law treats celebrity nicknames, public perception, and generic branding. As the proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen whether Dhoni can retain legal exclusivity over a name that the public gave him or whether it remains in the shared lexicon of cricket fans.
References:
- Live Law – MS Dhoni’s ‘Captain Cool’ Trademark Opposed
- Rediff – Setback for Dhoni Over Captain Cool Trademark
- Times of India – Dhoni Files for ‘Captain Cool’
- Moneycontrol – Trademark Law and Dhoni
- Economic Times – Dhoni’s Iconic Nickname Trademarked
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