Reliance calls ‘Operation Sindoor’ filing inadvertent, cites junior error

In a swift turnaround, Reliance Industries on Thursday withdrew its trademark application for the phrase "Operation Sindoor," citing it was "inadvertently filed by a junior person without authorisation." The statement came a day after the phrase made national headlines as India's counter-terror strike across the border, in retaliation for the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.

The phrase "Operation Sindoor" quickly became a symbol of India's military response. On May 7, within hours of the strikes being revealed, four trademark applications were filed under Class 41 of the Nice Classification, including one by Jio Studios, a Reliance unit. This class covers entertainment and media content such as films, web series, documentaries, live performances and publishing.

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The move sparked online outrage and criticism, with many accusing Reliance of attempting to commercialize a sensitive military operation. Responding to the backlash, the Mukesh Ambani-led conglomerate clarified it had no intention of owning or monetizing the phrase.

Operation Sindoor was launched in the early hours of May 8, targeting nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. At a press briefing, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh described the operation as a precise retaliation against Pakistan’s decades-old terror infrastructure, which includes training camps, indoctrination centers, and launchpads.

While Reliance's clarification helped defuse the controversy, the episode underlines the sensitivities surrounding national security events and their intersection with commercial interests. As of now, the term "Operation Sindoor" stands as a solemn reminder of India’s resolute stance against terrorism—not a trademark.