The Corporate Registry protects existing businesses against competitors using identical or similar names. All active businesses are protected indefinitely and proposed names of businesses are protected for 90 days.

Identical Names

Entities that have been struck off the register are protected indefinitely.

If identical names are submitted for an entity that has been dissolved, they will be subject to an internal review to determine if they can be used.

Entities names that have either expired or been cancelled by the Corporate Registry are protected for 90 days. Names that have been cancelled by the business owners are not protected.

Similar Names

Entities that have been struck off are protected for one year.

Entity names that have either expired or been cancelled by the Corporate Registry are protected for 90 days. Names that have been cancelled by their owners are not protected.

Historical names (i.e., those that have been altered because of names changes, amalgamations, continuances, etc.) are not protected.