{
  "id": 19485999,
  "title": "IPO-Bound Cult.fit Faces Fresh Legal Challenge Over CULT Trademark",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/ipo-bound-cult-fit-faces-fresh-legal-challenge-over-cult-trademark",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-11-11T10:40:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Inc42",
    "slug": "inc42",
    "url": "https://inc42.com/buzz/ipo-bound-cult-fit-faces-fresh-legal-challenge-over-cult-trademark/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A fresh legal challenge looms over Cult.fit's proposed public listing as the Madras High Court has issued a notice in a petition seeking the cancellation of the CULT trademark registered by one of the company's subsidiaries. Deepak Poduval, who co-founded CULT fitness in Bengaluru in 2015, has filed the rectification petition against Cultfit Healthcare Pvt Ltd, alleging forged documents used to establish the brand's ownership. The court has granted notice in the matter (OP(TM) No. 51 of 2026) and adjourned proceedings to December 2, allowing Cultfit Healthcare to file its response. Poduval has also approached the Commercial Court in Bengaluru, seeking to declare the 2017 deeds transferring the CULT brand void, alleging forged signatures. The dispute began in 2015 when Poduval initially applied for the 'CULT – The Workout Station' trademark, but Cultfit Healthcare filed a separate application in 2016, claiming usage of the brand since May 1, 2015. The trademark Registry raised objections, and Cultfit Healthcare has since denied Poduval's allegations of forgery. The trademark challenge is part of a broader legal battle between Poduval and Rishabh Telang, Cult.fit cofounders, over the transfer of assets and intellectual property.",
  "summary": "In a fresh legal challenge ahead of Cult.fit’s proposed public listing, the Madras High Court (HC) has issued a notice…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}