Company or Business Name

Restrictions When Choosing a Company or Business Name

The Registry will ensure that your choice of name is not the same as an existing name and that it does not contain any words which are prescribed by regulations or which are considered to be offensive. In addition, the law requires that all company names must end with an approved suffix, denoting the fact that the company has either "limited" or "unlimited" liability.

To assist the industry a copy of the policies operated by the Commission in considering and approving company and business names is downloadable from this website.

Obtaining Approval for a Company or Business Name

If you are setting up a company or business for the first time, or changing the name of an existing company or business, you should first obtain approval of the name from the Companies Registry. You can do this by completing a simple Name Request form and sending it by post or fax to the Companies Registry.

You can also check the availability of proposed names on our web site and submit an application to reserve a name by e-mail.

In cases where a company or business wishes to change its name, the Companies Registry will, on approval of the name, either issue a Certificate of Approval of Change of Name or a letter. Once the company has received this certificate, it may go ahead with passing the special resolution to change its name.

Trade Marks

The Financial Supervision Commission does not consult any Trade Mark Index or other Trade Mark Register. Approval of a name is not an indication that no Trade Mark rights exist over it. There is no Trade Mark Index in the Isle of Man, but Isle of Man Trade Marks are included in the UK Trade Mark Index. In case of doubt, in relation to Isle of Man or UK Trade Mark matters, you may wish to contact the relevant authorities at either or both of the following addresses:

UK Intellectual Property Office Concept House Cardiff Road Newport South Wales NP10 8QQ United Kingdom	UK Intellectual Property Office Harmsworth House 13-15 Bouverie Street London United Kingdom	Information about the UK Intellectual Property Office is available on their website: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/home.htm UK Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office

Please also note that if you do business using a name that misleads the public into believing that your business is that of another, you may face legal action on the grounds of ‘passing off’ by any person whose business you have affected. Registration of a name with the Commission is no guarantee that you are safe from such action. You should always seek appropriate legal advice before proceeding.

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Downloadable Documents