Reliance Withdraws ‘Operation Sindoor’ Trademark Application After Public Backlash

Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) has taken back its application to trademark the name "Operation Sindoor" after facing criticism on social media. Many users online called out the move as insensitive, accusing the company of trying to profit from a military mission.

Filed by Mistake, Says Reliance

In a public statement on Thursday, Reliance clarified that the application was made by mistake. According to the company, a junior staff member from Jio Studios—its media unit—filed the application without proper authorisation.

At 9:35 AM, Reliance Industries share price was down 1.47% and was trading at ₹1386.30.

What Did the Trademark Covered

The application was filed on May 7 under Class 41, a category that covers a wide range of services including entertainment, publishing, events, and language teaching. The description mentioned use for things like online shows, concerts, exhibitions, and forums.

Although Reliance did not officially confirm any project under this name, the filing suggested that the term could have been used for a future media production.

Status Before Withdrawal

Until Thursday morning, the trademark was still listed as “Formalities Check Pass” on the Intellectual Property India portal, meaning it had cleared initial review stages.

Reliance’s Media Growth

This incident comes at a time when Reliance is expanding rapidly in the media and entertainment sector. Last year, it announced a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company, combining their TV and streaming businesses in India. This US$8.5 billion deal brought together platforms like StarPlus, Colors TV, Hotstar, and JioCinema under one roof.

Conclusion

Reliance's quick withdrawal of the trademark and its statement blaming an unauthorised filing shows its intent to avoid further public anger. While it remains unclear if any content was planned under the name "Operation Sindoor," the public reaction was loud and clear. 
 
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