Viral Chaiwala Moves UKIPO Over Trademark Dispute
Pakistan’s viral “Chaiwala” Arshad Khan has moved a trademark dispute to the United Kingdom’s intellectual-property forum, opening a new legal chapter in a brand battle linked to his name, face and Café Chaiwala identity. The case, reported on Monday, August 17, centres on a challenge filed at the UK Intellectual Property Office against a mark registered by his former UK business partner.
According to the latest details, Arshad Khan and his business partner Syed Kazim Hasan are seeking to invalidate a figurative trademark allegedly registered by Nadir Khan Durrani. Their position is that the disputed mark uses Arshad’s likeness and was registered after the business relationship between the parties had already broken down.
The applicants have argued through their legal representatives that the former UK partner no longer had permission to use Arshad Khan’s intellectual property after the termination of the franchise arrangement. They allege that continuing use of the image, branding or related commercial identity could mislead customers into believing that certain café operations remain officially connected to Arshad.
Court-linked filings cited in the report say the matter involves claims of contractual breach, abuse of trust and unauthorised commercial use of the Café Chaiwala Arshad Khan brand. The challenged trademark is said to contain a visual representation associated with Arshad’s face, making the dispute not only a business disagreement but also a question of personal image rights.
Nadir Khan Durrani has disputed the claims and is expected to contest the proceedings. His position, according to the report, is that the UK operation invested heavily in building the cafés and that the franchise side did not provide the level of operational and marketing support he says was expected.
Arshad Khan’s rise remains one of Pakistan’s most recognisable social-media success stories. He became an international internet sensation in 2016 after a photograph of him preparing tea at an Islamabad roadside stall went viral, turning him from a young tea seller into a widely known public figure across Pakistan and beyond.
The viral fame later developed into a commercial brand as Café Chaiwala Arshad Khan expanded from a social-media identity into a hospitality venture. The UK franchise arrangement reportedly began in 2021, but disagreements later emerged over royalties, branding rights, payments and control of the intellectual property attached to the business.
The UK franchise relationship was formally ended in April 2025, according to the applicants’ case. They argue that any rights granted to the UK partners were limited to the active franchise period and did not allow independent registration of Arshad Khan’s likeness as a separate commercial mark after the relationship ended.
The case carries wider importance for Pakistani entrepreneurs whose personal stories become brands in international markets. It highlights how viral fame can create business opportunities, but also legal risks when trademarks, franchises, royalties and image rights are not protected with clear enforcement mechanisms.
The UK Intellectual Property Office will now examine whether the disputed mark was registered lawfully and whether the applicants can prove goodwill, ownership rights and bad faith in the registration process. The outcome could shape the future use of the Café Chaiwala identity in the UK and determine how Arshad Khan’s name and image may be commercially used abroad.