Module 7: Corporate Name Review

Previous Module | Table of Contents | Next Module

Topics:

1. Introduction
2. Four Steps to a Corporate Name Review
3. Exercises

---

Introduction

When examiners at Corporations Canada receive a corporate name request, they go through a series of four steps in order to make a decision on whether to approve or reject the name.

This module summarizes the four steps that relate to the other modules seen previously.

---

Four Steps to a Corporate Name Review

Step 1 - Read Proposed Name
Step 2 - Check NUANS® Report
Step 3 - Distinctiveness Determination
Step 4 - Confusion Determination

---

Exercises

Scenario 1
The applicant wants the name Vaden Imaging Inc. On the NUANS® report, there is one name with the same distinctive element "Vaden Images Ltd.". The applicant's business sells billboards in the Czech Republic, while Vaden Images Ltd. operates in Canada in the cartoon industry.

Scenario 2
The applicant wants the name Cupboards & Drawers Inc. but supplies no other information. There are no confusingly similar names or marks on the NUANS® report.

Scenario 3
An applicant wants the name National Shipping Overseas Corp. and supplies a consent form from an Alberta corporation that has the identical name. Both businesses are planning to continue operating.

Scenario 4
The applicant has been in business distributing cooking books as a sole proprietor since 1994. The name of her business is Boogie Woogie Publications. She now wishes to incorporate using the same name. The NUANS® report shows a trademark on the name "Boogie Woogie" for books. The trademark was registered by PBH Corporation in 1995.

Scenario 5
The applicant asks for the name Swift Security Systems Inc., to be an affiliate of a mother company called Swift Holdings Inc., that holds several construction companies having "Swift" as their distinctive element. The applicant has a consent from that mother company. However, the NUANS® report shows several other businesses bearing the distinctive element "Swift", including one named Swift House Protection Ltd. This company is not held by the mother company mentioned above.

Scenario 6
The applicant asks for the name Anjomy Business Management Inc. The NUANS® report shows only one similar name, Anjomy Business Management, a trade name owned by the applicant. The applicant provides his own consent to the use of the trade name.

Previous Module | Table of Contents | Next Module