Reliance Industries Limited filed for the ‘Operation Sindoor’ trademark just hours after the Indian Army’s strike was announced. Within 24 hours, a Delhi lawyer and two others joined the race under Class 41 trademark category.
New Delhi: Reliance Industries Limited was the first to submit a trademark application for “Operation Sindoor” just hours after the Indian military operation of the same name was announced. Within 24 hours, three additional applicants emerged, all seeking exclusive rights under Class 41, which pertains to entertainment, education, cultural, and media services.
The four applications were filed between 10:42 AM and 6:27 PM on May 7, 2025, by Reliance, Mumbai resident Mukesh Chetram Agrawal, retired Indian Air Force officer Group Captain Kamal Singh Oberh, and Delhi-based lawyer Alok Kothari.
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Each application is marked as “proposed to be used,” indicating an intention to utilize the phrase for commercial purposes.
‘Operation Sindoor’ refers to a recent Indian cross-border military strike that captured nationwide attention. The term has quickly taken on symbolic significance, with “sindoor” evoking traditional Indian values of sacrifice and valor.
This strong emotional and patriotic connection has made it a desirable term for use in films, media, and public discussions and now, as a commercial trademark.
All four applicants have filed for registration under Class 41 of the Nice Classification, which encompasses:
- Education and training services
- Film and media production
- Live performances and events
- Digital content delivery and publishing
- Cultural and sporting activities
This category is frequently utilized by OTT platforms, production houses, broadcasters, and event management companies, indicating that “Operation Sindoor” could soon be seen as a film title, web series, or documentary brand.
Each filing is noted as “proposed to be used,” meaning the applicants have not yet launched the brand commercially but plan to do so soon.
In India, names of military operations like “Operation Sindoor” do not automatically receive intellectual property protection from the government. The Ministry of Defence typically does not register or commercialize these names, and they are not safeguarded by any specialized statutory IP framework.
Consequently, unless the government intervenes, such names remain available for trademark claims by private individuals or entities.
However, the Trade Marks Act, 1999 allows the registry to reject trademarks that are misleading, offensive, or against public policy. Under Sections 9(2) and 11, the registrar may deny a trademark if it implies a false association with national defense or could offend public sentiment.
Despite this, there is no automatic prohibition on registering such terms unless challenged by the government or other interested parties.
Indian trademark law does not guarantee rights to the first filer. While the filing date is significant, the Registrar also considers other factors, including:
- Genuine intent to use the mark
- Likelihood of confusion with existing or competing marks
- Strength and distinctiveness of the mark
- Evidence presented during opposition (if any)
If two or more identical trademarks are filed around the same time, the registry may pause examination or publication, and disputes may be resolved through opposition proceedings.
In some instances, coexistence agreements may be allowed if the parties reach an agreement.
The standard process for registering a trademark in India involves:
- Filing the application with a fee and classification
- Examination by the Trade Marks Registry
- Publication in the Trademarks Journal for four months
- Opposition by third parties (if any)
- Registration, if unopposed or after successfully overcoming opposition.
On May 7, 2025, India launched Operation Sindoor, a series of precision missile strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and several locations across Pakistan. This operation was in direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which led to the deaths of several Indian tourists.
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