Law Firm Opposes Cricketer MS Dhoni's Trademark Application For 'Captain Cool'

Law firm KAnalysis Attorneys at Law, has filed an opposition to cricketer and former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's application for trademark of the term “Captain Cool”, citing serious procedural lapses, lack of evidence of prior use, and the generic nature of the mark

Notably, the cricketer's application filed in June 2023 was "accepted and advertised" by the Trademarks Registry, Kolkata Office, in June this year. The trademark was published in the journal on June 16, 2025, to invite objections. If no objection or opposition is raised to the trademark by anyone within 120 days from June 16, it will be granted.

A press release issued by the lawfirm has raised strong objections to the acceptance of the application by the registry.

The opposition, led by advocate Nilanshu Shekhar, claims: 

"- the application was originally filed on a "proposed to be used" basis and later amended to claim use since 2008—without any supporting affidavits or commercial evidence such as invoices, advertisements, or user data.

-further the phrase “Captain Cool” is widely known as a descriptive, laudatory term and has been used in the cricketing world well before Dhoni's association with it. 

-The Registry accepted the mark despite an unresolved citation of a prior registered trademark and without serving mandatory rectification notices. 

-The applicant has claimed acquired distinctiveness without providing any substantial proof of widespread recognition or commercial exploitation of the term “Captain Cool” in the relevant class of services."

Dhoni's trademark application has been made under Class 41, a category dealing with education, training, entertainment, sporting and cultural activities. Dhoni has made the application to secure the rights over "Captain Cool" in fields related to sports training and coaching.