Fintech giants BharatPe and PhonePe have announced the amicable resolution of their prolonged legal battles over the use of the ‘Pe’ suffix in their trademarks. This settlement marks the end of five years of litigation across multiple courts.

As part of the agreement, both companies have initiated the process of withdrawing their respective trademark oppositions, facilitating the registration of their marks. Additionally, they will take further steps to adhere to the settlement terms in cases before the Delhi High Court and the Bombay High Court.

Rajnish Kumar, chairman of BharatPe, hailed the resolution as a positive step for the industry, commending the maturity and professionalism displayed by both parties. PhonePe’s founder and CEO, Sameer Nigam, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the mutual benefits and the potential for both companies to now concentrate on advancing the Indian fintech sector.

The dispute began in 2019 when PhonePe accused BharatPe of unlawfully using the ‘Pe’ suffix in both English and Hindi, asserting trademark rights and seeking an injunction against the Tiger Global-backed BharatPe. Similar legal challenges were faced by the insurtech startup BimaPe, which has since rebranded to Verak.