IndiaMART Moves Calcutta High Court Over Alleged Exclusion from ChatGPT Responses
IndiaMART has approached the Calcutta High Court against OpenAI, alleging that its website and business listings are being excluded from answers generated by ChatGPT.
IndiaMART told the Court that this exclusion has reduced its online visibility and caused both reputational and commercial harm. The company argued that many users now rely on AI tools like ChatGPT to search for suppliers and products, and being left out of such responses directly impacts its business opportunities.
According to IndiaMART, OpenAI relied on reports by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to justify the exclusion. The company claimed it was named in these reports without being given a chance to explain its position, and said OpenAI’s reliance on such reports is arbitrary and has no legal basis.
IndiaMART also alleged unfair discrimination, trade libel, dilution of its trademark, and unlawful interference with its business. It stated that while it was excluded from ChatGPT responses, other platforms mentioned in the same USTR reports continue to appear, leading to unequal treatment and unfair competition.
Justice Ravi Krishan Kapur observed that IndiaMART appeared to have been selectively discriminated against. The Court noted that this issue requires closer examination, especially given the growing role of AI platforms in business discovery.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 13, 2026. OpenAI and other respondents were not represented before the Court despite being served.
This case comes at a time when the Indian government is working on new rules for how AI models use copyrighted content. Earlier this month, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade released a working paper proposing a licensing system for AI training data. Under this proposal, AI companies could use copyrighted content under a single licence, while paying royalties to copyright holders once they generate revenue.
