Navigating Company Name Approval with SSM
1. Restricted or Prohibited Words:
- The Companies Act 2016 gives SSM the authority to prohibit or restrict certain names deemed undesirable by the Registrar. For example, name which in connection with Royal family, state or federal government, political parties and so on.
- Specific prohibitions can be found in the Controlled or Gazetted Words list.
2. Potential Confusion:
- SSM may reject a proposed name if it’s similar to an existing registered company’s name or a former name of an existing company, which could confuse the public.
3. Query on Name Similarity:
- Additional documentation, like consent letters, may be required if the proposed name resembles famous local or international brands or companies (e.g., Ramly Burger, Tealive, Oppo).
4. Checking for Existing Use:
- While Google searches and the SSM e-info online system can help determine if a name has been used, results may not be entirely accurate.
5. No Guarantee on Approval:
- Despite conducting searches beforehand, we could not guarantee of approval due to limitations such as incomplete online presence, inconclusive SSM e-info results, and varying judgments from different SSM officers.