SAMR to Accelerate Enterprise Name Registration System Reform

The State Administration for Market Regulation ("SAMR") has recently issued the Circular on Ensuring Effective Transitional Work for the Cancellation of the Administrative Approval Item Concerning the Pre-approval of Enterprise Names (Draft for Comment) (the "Draft for Comment") for public consultation by March 10, 2019.

The Draft for Comment calls for effective transitional work after the administrative approval item previously requiring advanced approvals of proposed enterprise names has been abolished. More specifically, efforts will be made to: 1. adopt a self-declaration policy for enterprise names in all aspects; 2. further optimize enterprise registration services; 3. examine according to the law items related to the registration of enterprise names; and 4. improve the mechanism for resolving disputes over enterprise names. In addition, the Draft for Comment stipulates that, the self-declaration of enterprise names will be widely promoted by the end of May 2019, and no more Notices of Pre-approvals of Enterprise Names will be issued. Meanwhile, the name of a proposed enterprise will be examined together with other registration items when this enterprise is being registered. Where a dispute arises between enterprises over the use of a name, the parties concerned may refer this dispute to the enterprise registration authority, or alternatively file a lawsuit to the people's court.



(Source: http://www.saic.gov.cn/hd/zjdc/201903/t20190304_291623.html)

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