Registering company names

Companies House

Companies House is responsible for company registration in Great Britain.

Company law is different from trade mark law. You cannot stop someone using a trade mark, which is the same or similar to yours, just by registering your name with Companies House.

We cannot guarantee that the name of a company accepted for registration at Companies House is acceptable by us as a registered trade mark.

The company name may not qualify as a trade mark because, for example:

• It is not considered distinctive,
• It is a descriptive word or term
• It may indicate geographical origin,
• It may already be registered in someone else’s name

The following examples of company names would not be accepted as trade marks:

• Reliable Builders
• Cheap Car Insurance Company

In the same way, a trade mark, which is a word, might not be accepted for registration at Companies House.

To find out more visit the Companies House web site.