US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

 
  § 301. Corporate name; general.
    (a)    Except  as  otherwise  provided  in this chapter, the name of a
  domestic or foreign corporation:
    (1)   Shall, unless  the  corporation  is  formed  for  charitable  or
  religious  purposes,  or  for  purposes  for  which  the approval of the
  commissioner  of  social  services  or  the  public  health  council  is
  required,  or  is  a  bar  association,  contain the word "corporation",
  "incorporated" or "limited" or an abbreviation of one of such words; or,
  in the case of a foreign corporation, it shall, for use in  this  state,
  add at the end of its name one of such words or an abbreviation thereof.
    (2)  (A)  Shall  be  such  as  to  distinguish  it  from  the names of
  corporations of any type or kind, or a fictitious name of an  authorized
  foreign  corporation filed pursuant to article thirteen of this chapter,
  as such names appear on the index of  names  of  existing  domestic  and
  authorized   foreign   corporations  of  any  type  or  kind,  including
  fictitious names of authorized foreign corporations  filed  pursuant  to
  article  thirteen  of this chapter, in the department of state, division
  of corporations, or a name the right to which is reserved.
    (B) Shall be such as to distinguish it from (i) the names of  domestic
  limited  liability  companies,  (ii)  the  names  of  authorized foreign
  limited liability companies, (iii) the fictitious  names  of  authorized
  foreign  limited liability companies, (iv) the names of domestic limited
  partnerships, (v) the names of authorized foreign limited  partnerships,
  or (vi) the fictitious names of authorized foreign limited partnerships,
  in  each  case,  as  such names appear on the index of names of existing
  domestic and authorized foreign limited liability  companies,  including
  fictitious  names  of authorized foreign limited liability companies, in
  the department of state, or on the index of names of  existing  domestic
  or  authorized  foreign limited partnerships, including fictitious names
  of authorized foreign limited partnerships, in the department of  state,
  or  names  the  rights to which are reserved; provided, however, that no
  corporation that was formed prior to the effective date of  this  clause
  and  no  foreign corporation that was qualified to conduct activities in
  this state prior to such effective date shall be required to change  the
  name  or  fictitious name it had on such effective date solely by reason
  of such name or fictitious name being indistinguishable from the name or
  fictitious name of any domestic or authorized foreign limited  liability
  company  or  limited  partnership or from any name the right to which is
  reserved by or on behalf of any domestic or  foreign  limited  liability
  company or limited partnership.
    (3)    Shall  not  contain  any word or phrase, or any abbreviation or
  derivative thereof, the use of which  is  prohibited  or  restricted  by
  section 404 (Approvals and consents) or any other statute of this state,
  unless in the latter case the restrictions have been complied with.
    (4)    Shall  not  contain  any word or phrase, or any abbreviation or
  derivative thereof, in a context which indicates  or  implies  that  the
  corporation,  if  domestic,  is formed or, if foreign, is authorized for
  any purpose or is possessed in this state of  any  power  other  than  a
  purpose  for  which, or a power with which, the domestic corporation may
  be and is formed or the foreign corporation is authorized.
    (5) (A) Shall not  contain  any  of  the  following  phrases,  or  any
  abbreviation or derivative thereof:
                                state police
                                state trooper
    (B)  Shall not contain any of the following words, or any abbreviation
  or derivative thereof:
 
  acceptance             fidelity               mortgage
  annuity                finance                savings
 
  assurance              guaranty               surety
 
  bank                   indemnity              title
 
  bond                   insurance              trust
 
  casualty               investment             underwriter
 
  doctor                 lawyer
 
  endowment              loan
 
  unless the approval of the superintendent of banks or the superintendent
  of  insurance,  as  appropriate,  is  attached  to  the  certificate  of
  incorporation, or application for authority  or  amendment  thereof;  or
  that the word "doctor", "lawyer", or the phrase "state police" or "state
  trooper"  or  an  abbreviation or derivation thereof, may be used in the
  name of a corporation the membership of which is composed exclusively of
  doctors, lawyers, state policemen or state troopers, respectively.
    (6)  Shall not contain any words or phrases, or  any  abbreviation  or
  derivative  thereof  in  a context which will tend to mislead the public
  into believing that the corporation is an agency or  instrumentality  of
  the  United  States or the state of New York or a subdivision thereof or
  is a public corporation.
    (7)   Shall not contain the word  "cooperative"  or  an  abbreviation,
  contraction or derivative thereof.
    (8)    Shall  not  contain  any word or phrase, or any abbreviation or
  derivation thereof, which, separately, or in context, shall be  indecent
  or  obscene  or  shall  ridicule  or  degrade any person, group, belief,
  business or agency of government  or  indicate  or  imply  any  unlawful
  activity.
    (9)  Notwithstanding  any other provision of this chapter, may, in the
  case of a foundation organized for the sole purpose  of  publishing  the
  literary  works  of  a deceased person, include the word "doctor" or any
  abbreviation or derivative thereof as part of its  name  if  such  word,
  abbreviation  or  derivative  is used to identify the person whose works
  are to be published.