Md. Code Regs. 18.04.02.04

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 19, September 20, 2024

Section 18.04.02.04 - Nondistinctive Factors

A. In addition to the requirements of other regulations of this chapter, presence or absence of the following factors or words do not make an entity name distinctive from one on record.

B. Factors, Words, Letters, or Punctuation.

(1) Tails Between Similar Organizations.

(a) When two entities are in the same category of business organization, that is, corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, etc., and the only difference between their names is the tails, the names are not distinctive.

(b) Example: "WYZ Corp." is not distinctive from "WYZ, Inc." or "WYZ Limited".

(2) Spacing.

(a) When the only difference between two entity names is the presence or absence of a space, the names are not distinctive.

(b) Example: "Maryland LLLP" is not distinctive from Mary land LLLP".

(3) Case Sensitivity.

(a) When the only difference between two entity names is the presence or absence of lower or uppercase letters, the names are not distinctive.

(b) Example: "Smith Chartered" is not distinctive from "SMIth Chartered".

(4) "And", "The", "An", "Or", and "Of".

(a) When the only difference between two entity names is the presence or absence of the words "And", "The", "An", "Or", or "Of", the names are not distinctive.

(b) Examples: "The ABC, Inc." is not distinctive from "ABC, Inc."; "A or B LLLP" is not distinctive from "AB LLLP".

(5) Use of "A".

(a) When the only difference between two entity names is the presence or absence of the letter "A" where "A" is used as an indefinite article, the names are not distinctive.

(b) Example: "A Dog's Life LLC" is not distinctive from "Dog's Life LLC".

(6) Punctuation.

(a) When the only difference between two entity names is the presence or absence of punctuation, the names are not distinctive.

(b) Example: "The EFG, LLC" is not distinctive from "The EFG LLC".

Md. Code Regs. 18.04.02.04

Regulations .04 adopted effective February 3, 1992 (19:2 Md. R. 156)
Regulations .04 adopted effective December 14, 1998 (25:25 Md. R. 1834); amended effective 49:25 Md. R.1041-1070, eff. 12/12/2022