Misleading namesU.K.
1197Name containing inappropriate indication of company type or legal formU.K.
(1)The Secretary of State may make provision by regulations prohibiting a person from carrying on business in the United Kingdom under a name consisting of or containing specified words, expressions or other indications—
(a)that are associated with a particular type of company or form of organisation, or
(b)that are similar to words, expressions or other indications associated with a particular type of company or form of organisation.
(2)The regulations may prohibit the use of words, expressions or other indications—
(a)in a specified part, or otherwise than in a specified part, of a name;
(b)in conjunction with, or otherwise than in conjunction with, such other words, expressions or indications as may be specified.
(3)In this section “specified” means specified in the regulations.
(4)Regulations under this section are subject to negative resolution procedure.
(5)A person who uses a name in contravention of regulations under this section commits an offence.
(6)Where an offence under this section is committed by a body corporate, an offence is also committed by every officer of the body who is in default.
(7)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.
Commencement Information
I1S. 1197 wholly in force at 1.10.2009; s. 1197 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 1300; s. 1197 in force for specified purposes at 20.1.2007 by S.I. 2006/3428, art. 3(3) (subject to art. 5, Sch. 1 and with arts. 6, 8, Sch. 5); s. 1197 otherwise in force at 1.10.2009 by S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(x) (with arts. 5, 7, 8, Sch. 2) (as amended by S.I. 2009/1802, art. 18)
1198Name giving misleading indication of activitiesU.K.
(1)A person must not carry on business in the United Kingdom under a name that gives so misleading an indication of the nature of the activities of the business as to [F1pose a risk of harm to the public in the United Kingdom or elsewhere].
(2)A person who uses a name in contravention of this section commits an offence.
(3)Where an offence under this section is committed by a body corporate, an offence is also committed by every officer of the body who is in default.
(4)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale and, for continued contravention, a daily default fine not exceeding one-tenth of level 3 on the standard scale.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 1198(1) substituted (26.10.2023 for specified purposes, 4.3.2024 in so far as not already in force) by Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (c. 56), ss. 24, 219(1)(2)(b); S.I. 2024/269, reg. 2(s)