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UK companies often spend a great deal of time and money choosing a name. Unfortunately, all this time and money could be wasted if the choice of name is rejected by Companies House because it is the same as an existing name. When choosing a name it is advisable to check what names have already been registered. Creditgate.com provides a free search facility of the Companies House index, as well as providing Companies House documents and Credit Reports.

It should be noted that, although a name may be accepted for registration at Companies House, this does not preclude the company from being directed to change its name by Companies House if it is considered to be "too like" an existing name on the Index. Registration of a name is also no indication that proprietary rights such as trade marks, logos, trading names etc., do not exist in a name or part of a name. Therefore, it is advisable to thoroughly research your choice of name before registering it at Companies House.

Companies House is aware of allegations being made that individuals have acted on information obtained from the Press and other sources to register a name apparently so as to block any subsequent application for that name and to seek payment for releasing the name to an interested party. The Companies Act does not contain any special provisions to deal with names which have been registered in these circumstances, often referred to as 'opportunistic registration' or 'name squatting'. An aggrieved party would need to seek legal advice and look outside the company law arena to see whether it could take any action.

As Company names cannot be reserved at Companies House you may wish to consider whether there are any steps you can take to safeguard your choice of name. For example, you may be able to ensure that the choice of name is not made public until that name has been registered by you at Companies House.

What about the future? The Government is currently undertaking a long-term project to modernise British Company Law. This began in 1998 with the launch of an independent review of core Company Law with the final report published in July 2001. Among the suggestions for change, the Review recommended that there should be provision for a person to apply to the courts for a direction to a company to change its name in certain circumstances. Applicants could call on this provision where they could show that a name had been chosen and registered with Companies House with the intention of demanding money to release the name.