Reliance Industries Withdraws Trademark Application

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has decided to withdraw its application to trademark "Operation Sindoor," the codename for India's military strikes on Pakistan, following widespread social media backlash.

Background of the Controversy

RIL filed the application under class 41, aiming to use the phrase for entertainment services, shortly after the military operation was launched. The company attributed the filing to an unauthorized action by a junior executive at Jio Studios, its entertainment division, and stated it had no intention to trademark the operation's name.

Public and Political Reaction

The Communist Party of India criticized the move on social media, questioning the blame placed on a junior employee and highlighting the company's profit-driven motives. Additionally, three other parties filed for the trademark, indicating commercial intentions.

Legal Perspectives

Legal experts suggest that the trademark may not be granted, as Operation Sindoor is a historical event resulting from government actions, not private initiatives. In India, military operation code names are not automatically protected by the government.