What does defensive name mean?

Defensive company name registrations are intended to protect trade marks being incorporated into company and close corporation names. This means that you will be able to protect your trade mark on the company names register and prevent others from trading and using your trade mark as a company name.

What is a defensive name South Africa?

A Defensive Name is the first step towards registering your business, and is registered at BIPA for the purposes of protecting such name where the defender holds material interest in such a name. The Name can be defended for an initial period of 2 years and may be renewed for an additional 2 years only.

What is a defensive name CIPC?

Home » Register your Business » Defensive name. A defensive name may be registered for a period of two years and may be renewed for a further two years. The applicant must provide proof to the Commission that he/she has a direct and material interest in the protection of the name.

What is a proposed name?

Proposed name includes words like National, Central, Union, Federal etc which are. considered as undesirable. Please furnish No Objection by way of Resolution of the Board of the Group of Companies. Proposed name indicates the partnership or the patronage of any National Leader or of. Government.

What happens if a company name is rejected?

If a proposed name is rejected the company may still be registered and the registration number then becomes the name of the company at incorporation until an appropriate name has been reserved. Furthermore, symbols are allowed in company names and all languages are accepted.

Can you register a company with a similar name?

You can use as many business/trading names as you like, but you should avoid using one that is the same as the registered name of a company in the same industry. This could be viewed as ‘passing off’, which would mean you were taking advantage of a company’s goodwill and trust.

How do I protect my company name?

Trademark. A trademark can protect the name of your business, goods, and services at a national level. Trademarks prevent others in the same (or similar) industry in the United States from using your trademarked names.

How do I secure my company name in South Africa?

A registered trade mark can be protected forever, provided you renew the registration every ten years. Find out more about registering a trade mark from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) or contact CIPC on 086 100 2472.

Are business names case sensitive?

Not necessarily. Other factors, such as font choices, colors, brand name words, and mixed-case capitalization were not tested. Capitalization case is just one of the factors to consider.

What characters are allowed in a business name?

Rules of General Application. Business entity names must use the English alphabet or Arabic numerals (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) or symbols as listed in Section 21002(b) or a combination thereof.

How do I check if a company name is available in South Africa?

Contacting the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission via Phone or Email is free and is the most reliable way to check your business name availability. Online, you can search for South African businesses to verify the existence of an enterprise.

How long does it take for a business name to be approved?

Ease of doing business: Name reservation, business registration to now take 48 hours. The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) says activities like name reservation and registration of new businesses will now take 48 hours.