Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.
AIA

What’s in a name? Get the details right

by
17th Oct 2012
Save content
Have you found this content useful? Use the button above to save it to your profile.

NOTE: this article has been updated as at November 2015

A local controversy prompts Jennifer Adams to warn all businesses of the need to check the names they plan to use. This article explains the legal and procedural requirements.

When dear old Woolies closed down a few years ago, the manager of my local branch in Dorchester decided to save her colleagues’ jobs and open a similar shop selling similar goods under the name Wellworths.

But the Channel Islands-based Barclay brothers who own the Woolworths name complained and forced the name to be changed to Wellchester. The solicitor’s fees, costs of changing the name and signage proved too much for the embryonic business and when the landlord increased the rent it closed after three years. A Poundland has taken its place.

Company naming tips
  • Check the Companies House GD01 guidance for sensitive names
  • Check Companies House and/or Jordans webcheck  for “same as” and similar names
  • Check Intellectual Property Office register to find out if a name is registered as a UK trade mark.
  • Check fasthost.co.uk  for names registered as UK domain names to make sure there are no problems or companies with the same name - as reported by the BBC
  • Search for identical or similar names on the web
  • Make enquiries of suppliers and others of the intended sector.
  • If in doubt contact Companies House
  • If you don’t want to wait, but are unsure a company will pass the web checks, proceed until the final checks (enquiries etc) have been finalised and change the name to the one wanted.
  • Check regularly to see if anyone is registering with a similar name to yours - some accountants and solicitors offer an annual subscription service which will automatically check and notify you accordingly.

This cautionary tale illustrates how tricky naming conflicts can be, so it made sense to investigate the legal background and to seek advice from the experts at Companies House on how best to avoid costly repetitions of the Wellworth’s experience.

We are used to thinking that the Companies Act 2006 refers only to companies, but s1192 Companies Act 2006 covers all types of business: sole traders, partnerships, LLPs, companies - you name it… In fact, the CA06 clauses apply to anyone trading under a name which is not their real name. Contravening these restrictions is a criminal offence, but I doubt whether any newly formed sole trader business would be aware of the rules. Directors should also be aware that if an offence is committed, each director is potentially liable.

The section is under a chapter headed ‘Restricted or prohibited names’ (Part 41 Chapter 1) and prohibits a business name being used that suggests any connection with the UK government or public authority, or which includes a prescribed “sensitive” word. 

Check and check again

The current list of sensitive names is to be found under Chapter 7 of the Companies House Guidance GP1 ‘Incorporation and Names’. Names that do not appear to be very sensitive such as “Accredit” and “Standards” are listed.

Companies House has an online name checking facility that not only confirms name availability, but will also flag the name for potential rejection if on the "sensitive"list. 

Sensitive names can be used, but only if approved by the Secretary of State and in some cases the views of other bodies may need to be sought; the list of approvers is shown in the GP1. For example you can use the word “Windsor” but only if the Cabinet Office agrees. Companies House will not rush to prosecute those who fall foul of the law, giving them every opportunity to seek approval or choose another name.

Following consulation legislation was enacted on 31 January 2015 (use this link) that reduced the number of sensitive words and fewer words are now disregarded for the purposes of deciding whether one name is the ‘same as’ another. The reasoning is to allow more choice and make name swaps within groups of companies easier.

Same names will be rejected automatically but it is possible to override the rejection if the existing company gives Companies House their consent and the proposed company is in the same group as the existing company. If there are companies with the same name, which are not in the same group, it will not be possible to register the name, even with the consent of those in the group.

Too similar

If a company does get through the checks, another company (and only another company) could object under s67 CA 2006 on the grounds that the new name is too like an existing one. The Jordans website checker can help here as it lists those company names that their computer finds with similar names.

In an Any Answers post (dated September 2012 but still relevant in November 2015) Companies House refusing name swap a member commented that Companies House had rejected a company not under the same name rules (it was a group situation), but under the “too similar” rules. Companies House explained that there was an exception for companies within the same group, but added that permission must also be obtained from the rival companies with similar names and that they must be prepared to give up their names.

Tony Court advised that a name switch cannot be done directly, but can be achieved if statements were obtained from the former company directors confirming they had no objection to the "new" company's use of the name. The "old" company would have to change its name first, with the new company changing its name shortly after.

A company objects

Objection must be made within 12 months of incorporation.

The Companies Names Tribunal adjudicates at hearings where complaints are received. Objections are usually made by companies which have built a reputation and then find that a company has registered a name which is so similar it might be regarded as opportunistic thus breaching the goodwill of the existing company.

Jennifer Adams FCIS TEP ATT (Fellow) is Associate Editor of AccountingWEB. A professional business author specialising in corporate governance and taxation, she has written for many of the leading specialist providers of legal, tax and regulatory publications. Jennifer runs her own accounting and consultancy business with offices based in Surrey and Dorset.

Replies (12)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

avatar
By carnmores
17th Oct 2012 16:02

i dont like the Barclay brothers
they can stay in Brechtou as far as i am concerned

wellworths was an irish compay as well so how they got judgement one wonders - usual method presumably - throw heavy weight very expensive lawyers at it and kill the business one way or another

Thanks (2)
avatar
By Trevor Scott
17th Oct 2012 18:59

Poundsworth
was the name I was expecting to appear on former Woolworth stores. Wellworths is too close, just asking for trouble.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By johnjenkins
19th Oct 2012 11:55

Once you

pick a name eg cheapstuff Ltd that will also include cheapstuff services ltd.

We have found that normally a letter to the offending company stating the objection will eleviate the problem. It's only when challenged that costs get incured.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By lmfurlong
19th Oct 2012 12:26

The writer should have consulted a lawyer...

...and as a result this article misses the point.

I am not familiar with the details of the case, but I suspect that the actual name of the limited company was not the issue, rather it was the similarity of the trading name 'Wellworths' to 'Woolworths'. The owners of the Woolworths name could have argued that there was potential for confusion between the two names, which might have resulted in a loss of business, damage to reputation etc.

The limited company running the Wellworths store could have been called XYZ Ltd - but if it used the trading name 'Wellworths' then we have the same problem.

Knowing the Companies House rules is useful, but incorporating companies to 'protect' the names in not effective. Anyone looking to protect their right to a name or mark, or who thinks their rights have been infringed, should consult a lawyer with the relevant expertise.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By sda13j
19th Oct 2012 12:27

Change your real name?

Daft question: if "CA06 clauses apply to anyone trading under a name which is not their real name", could a sole trader get around these issues by changing their own name? So, assuming it wasn't a corporate, if the manager of Wellworths had become Jane Wellworth (or even "Well Worhts"?) would Woolworths have been able to challenge the name?

My imaginary friend "Price Waterhouse Cooper" is thinking about setting up a sole trader accountancy practice...

Thanks (0)
avatar
By steve pepper
19th Oct 2012 12:38

International

I have a client with international in the title which is an'ignored' word for similarity purposes. We . We wanted to do a name swap with another company only to find Companies House had allowed a new company to be formed the same as my clients except for the word international. They admitted they shouldn't have allowed the new company to be formed but said they could not force them to change the name, effectively saying two wrongs can't make a right!

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Stalytax
19th Oct 2012 14:26

Dixons

There was a case a few years ago where an electrical retailer in the North East, one Mr Dixon, branded his shop as 'Dixons' right down to using the same font and colours as the retail chain of Dixons.

Despite it being his name, Dixons brought an action against him, and he was told to stop pronto.

Round here we have branches of Krunchy Fried Chicken, with strangely familiar initials, and white on red branding, but I noticed last week that there boxes have been radically changed, with different initials and colour scheme, so I wonder if the Colonel's lawyers have turned up out of the blue. Most audacious fast food lookalike I have seen was a place selling burgers and fried chicken called ... McTucky's! How to upset 2 lots of lawyers at once.

 

 

Thanks (0)
Jennifer Adams
By Jennifer Adams
20th Oct 2012 08:54

'Too similar'

'Wellworths' was indeed a trading name - para 5 mentions the word 'trading'.

As the introduction para states - the 'Wellworths' saga is a reminder of how careful a new business needs to be when thinking up a name - a trading or a company name. Any name which is not someone's own personal name.

The Barclay Brothers did think there was too much similarlty between the two trading names:

that there was potential for confusion between the two names, which might have resulted in a loss of business, damage to reputation etc 

As the final paragraph states - Companies House terms this 'opportunistic'.

 

Plus>>> as para 4 states the article was given a very detailed 'once over' by an eminent law adviser at Companies House. 

 

 

.

Thanks (0)
By paddy55
20th Oct 2012 04:06

Businees Names

Registring a word or symbol as a trade mark gives far better protection.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By yeboyye
21st Oct 2012 17:29

Shop name

For many years our local town had Woolworths on one side of the street and Wellworths was more or less opposite it on the other side.  Wellworths closed first and then Woolworths, but both had traded for a long time.  There didn't seem to be a problem with the similar names.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By Ian Bee
23rd Oct 2012 11:01

I am not a lawyer but I can recall from the dim and distant past a difference between the law regarding names registration and an action for "passing off", I think it was called. If you have a shop in your own name, there is nothing to prevent trading under that name, but if you are called Dixon and open an electrical outlet with the same font and colouring of the better known brand, they would seek to prevent it.

From a customer's point of view that is quite right too, as you would want to know who you are dealing with.

Interestingly I was driving through a rural area at the weekend and saw a convenience store called Premier, with the same logo as the hotel chain. I wonder how long that will stay there.

Thanks (0)
avatar
By mikewhit
23rd Oct 2012 13:25

Barclay brothers ....?

Isn't that rather similar to a high street bank ...?

;-)

Thanks (1)