'Filed inadvertently': Reliance withdraws Operation Sindoor trademark application

Reliance Industries Ltd has withdrawn its trademark application for the term “Operation Sindoor” - the codename for India's military strikes in Pakistan - stating that it was inadvertently filed by a junior employee without authorisation.

In a statement, Reliance said it has no intention of "trademarking Operation Sindoor, a phrase which is now a part of the national consciousness as an evocative symbol of Indian bravery".

"Jio Studios, a unit of Reliance Industries, has withdrawn its trademark application, which was filed inadvertently by a junior person without authorisation," it said.

Four applications were filed

Earlier, four applications, including one by Reliance, were filed with the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks on Wednesday (May 7), seeking to use the phrase for entertainment-related services like audio and video content.

The other three applicants were individuals – a Mumbai resident, a retired Indian Air Force officer, and a Delhi-based lawyer.

Also Read: India, Pakistan on brink of war after Operation Sindoor? | Talking Sense With Srini

All four applicants filed between 10.42 am and 6.27 pm on May 7 for registration under Class 41 of the Nice Classification, which includes education and training services, film and media production, live performances and events, digital content delivery and publishing, and cultural and sporting activities.

This category is often used by OTT platforms, production houses, broadcasters, and event companies, suggesting that 'Operation Sindoor' could have become a film title, web series, or documentary brand.

Reliance’s application

Reliance filed the application for entertainment, publishing, and language training, according to the scope of application claimed by the applicants shown on the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.

Reliance Jio, the country’s top phone carrier, provides video and other digital content to its more than 465 million subscribers. The Mukesh Ambani-run firm was the first to apply for a patent on Wednesday.

Also Read: Operation Sindoor still on, says Rajnath Singh at all-party meet

Ambani, speaking at a public event last week, said India’s media and entertainment industry had the potential to easily grow fivefold to over $100 billion in the next decade.

The Reliance Group has a diverse portfolio with several entities such as Network18, Viacom18, and Jio Studios, dominating the entertainment industry with apps such as JioHotstar.

Reliance’s statement

"Reliance Industries and all its stakeholders are incredibly proud of Operation Sindoor, which came about in response to a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in Pahalgam," the statement said. "Operation Sindoor is the proud achievement of our brave Armed Forces in India's uncompromising fight against the evil of terrorism."

Also Read: Operation Sindoor aligns with UNSC call against terrorism, says India

Reliance, it said, stands fully in support of the government and Armed Forces in this fight against terrorism.

"Our commitment to the motto of 'India First' remains unwavering," ended Reliance’s statement.

Can ‘Operation Sindoor’ be trademarked?

In India, military operation names are not automatically protected intellectual property, and thus proposals for trademark can be pursued.

The Ministry of Defence does not generally register or restrict the commercial use of such names, leaving them open to trademark filings.

Also Read: UK Parliament debates India-Pakistan tensions, appeals for de-escalation

Trademark rights in India are not awarded solely on a first-come, first-served basis. The Registrar will also consider intent to use, risk of public confusion, distinctiveness, and opposition claims.

(With agency inputs)