Cognizant drops logo from social media after Bombay High Court reinstates trademark injunction

Cognizant

NASDAQ-listed Cognizant has removed its logo from major social media platforms, including LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube, following a legal setback in a trademark dispute. The Bombay High Court recently reinstated an injunction barring the IT services giant from using the trademark challenged by Bengaluru-based Atyati Technologies.

As of now, Cognizant is displaying only its name—without a logo—across its social media profiles. The move follows a ruling by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V. Marne on August 26, 2025, which set aside a June 2024 order that had previously lifted the injunction.

“We are complying with the Order of the Division Bench of the Bombay High Court. We are doing so while we consider our options for redress. Cognizant will pursue available legal remedies to defend its right,” a Cognizant spokesperson told Moneycontrol.

Meanwhile, the High Court has directed the single judge to expedite the hearing of Atyati’s interim injunction plea.

Also, read: Bombay HC restores ban on Cognizant logo use in India; Company to contest order

The court held that allegations of suppression of information against Atyati were “debatable” and did not warrant lifting the restraint. It restored the March 19, 2024, order that had prohibited Cognizant from infringing Atyati’s copyright in its “ATYATI Device Mark” until the interim application is finally decided.

Nearly three-fourths of Cognizant’s 340,000-plus workforce is based in India. This appears to be the first time a Fortune 250 company has come under scrutiny over alleged trademark logo infringement.

Atyati Technologies, according to its LinkedIn account, was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Bengaluru. Over 1,400 employees spread across 100 offices work with 21 banking and financial institutions offering technology that enables about Rs 3,000 crore transaction turnover every month. The company has raised $2.5 million in seed funding, according to Crunchbase data on its profile.

What the Court Battle is About

Moneycontrol, on May 10, 2024, reported that present and former staff were perplexed when their social media profiles and work histories suddenly displayed “Innovate” in place of the Cognizant logo.

Employee messaging groups were abuzz then with questions such as “What is Innovate?”, “Have you heard of this company?”, and “When did I work there?” The shift came after the March order restraining the company from using its previous branding in India.

When asked whether the company has changed the logo because of the recent court order, Cognizant had told Moneycontrol, “We do not comment on sub-judice matters. Cognizant respects third-party intellectual properties, while remaining committed to protecting its own business interests and IPs.”

A Cognizant spokesperson further said, “We are temporarily using ‘innovate’ as a header on our social media channels to commemorate the one-year anniversary of our Bluebolt innovation initiative, celebrating the central role innovation plays in Cognizant's culture and our commitment to developing 200,000 ideas by the end of 2024.”

The spokesperson further added, "We launched the campaign on World Innovation Day and expect it to run through May."

The US-headquartered firm introduced Bluebolt, a grassroots innovation programme, for its global associates to devise and submit ideas to advance clients' success.

Atyati Technologies claimed that its orange-coloured hexagonal honeycomb logo was being used by Cognizant. It argued that any confusion with the US-based company’s logo could damage its business interests and reputation.