Amid war tensions between India and Pakistan, billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited, alongside others, were in a race to acquire the trademark to the title ‘Operation Sindoor’. However, hours later, Reliance Industries announced that they had withdrawn their application and cited a "junior person" from Jio Studios, for filling the trademark application "without authorisation".
Operation Sindoor refers to India’s May 7 military retaliation against Pakistan for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 in which 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed. Under Operation Sindoor, India carried out precision strikes against nine terrorist sites belonging to Laskar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Reliance’s application was filed with the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks on May 8.
As per a screenshot shared by the fact-checking site Alt News from the Ministry of Commerce & Industry’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade Controller General of Patents Design & Trade Marks website, the application sought to use the name for a range of entertainment-related services. Further, the application sought permission to use the name Operation Sindoor in discussion forums, electronic publications, for shows, competitions, games, concerts, exhibitions, and events and even language teaching.
The application said that the company aims to register the services as ‘goods and services’ under Trademark Class 41, which covers services pertaining to entertainment, sports, education and cultural activities.
In a statement issued later the same day, Reliance Industries said they have "no intention of trademarking Operation Sindoor, a phrase which is now a part of the national consciousness as an evocative symbol of Indian bravery."
The statement further said, "Jio Studios, a unit of Reliance Industries, has withdrawn its trademark application, which was filed inadvertently by a junior person without authorisation. 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."
Additionally, Reliance Industries also said, "Operation Sindoor is the proud achievement of our brave Armed Forces in India's uncompromising fight against the evil of terrorism. Reliance stands fully in support of our Government and Armed Forces in this fight against terrorism. Our commitment to the motto of 'INDIA FIRST' remains unwavering."
According to Bar&Bench, three others have also sought similar trademarks within 24 hours of India carrying out its joint operation in Pakistan involving the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Navy. Others also seeking a trademark are a Mumbai resident named Mukesh Chetram Agrawal, a retired Indian Air Force Group Captain Kamal Singh Oberh, and a Delhi-based lawyer named Alok Kothari.