Just hours after the Indian military announced a new operation called “Operation Sindoor,” Reliance Industries Limited quickly applied to trademark this name. They were the first of four people and organizations to claim the name, according to a report by Bar and Bench on Thursday.
On May 7, 2025, between 10:42 am and 6:27 pm, four applications for the trademark were filed. These applications fall under Class 41, which includes education, entertainment, media, and cultural services. The applicants are Reliance, a Mumbai resident named Mukesh Chetram Agrawal, a retired Air Force officer named Group Captain Kamal Singh Oberh, and a lawyer from Delhi named Alok Kothari. Each applicant wants to use the name for media or entertainment projects.
The name “Operation Sindoor” has caught the attention of many people in India. The word “sindoor” stands for bravery and cultural pride. After the military operation, the name became popular, making it a great choice for movies, TV shows, or patriotic programs.
In India, names of military operations are not automatically protected by law. The Ministry of Defence does not usually register or block commercial use of these names, so they can be trademarked by anyone. The Trade Marks Act, 1999, allows the trademark office to deny trademarks that might confuse people or offend them, but there isn’t an automatic ban on registering names like “Operation Sindoor.”
Trademark rights in India don’t just go to whoever applies first. The trademark office looks at whether the name will be used, if it might confuse people, how unique it is, and any challenges from others. When multiple people apply for similar names, the review process may slow down, and any disputes may need to be worked out formally.
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