Rule 8 - Names which resemble too nearly with name of existing company

Company name resemblance rules restrict registration when proposed names are indistinguishable from existing names.

A proposed company name is deemed to resemble an existing name if, after disregarding specified non-distinctive elements (such as corporate suffixes, plurality, letter case, spacing, punctuation, tense, phonetic or orthographic variants, domain elements, word order, articles, translations/transliterations, place-name additions and numerals except as brand), the names are identical. Some disregarded elements may be overridden by a no-objection board resolution. The rule also lists categories of undesirable names, mandatory declarations of prior use, prohibited government-associated words without approval, and a three-year restriction on reuse of released names.