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Business Name Alert Service – A Guide to Subscribe
Receive Alerts and Monitor Your Business Name Registration Directly With ACRA
Need to keep tabs on a specific business name that you have in mind? Now you can with the Business Name Alert Service.
What It’s Used for?
If you’ve got your sights set on a specific business name (or several business names), you’ll want to know as soon as it becomes available. That’s what the Business Name Alert Service is for. You get to keep track of brand names, registered trademarks and business names that have been registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).
Each name alert will be valid for a period of three years. All subscribers to this alert can monitor the specific business names that they would like to keep track of. Once a month, subscribers will be sent an email alert. This would usually be on the last day of the month. The email will notify you of the list of business names that have been registered within the past 12-months with ACRA. This way, you will be able to see if any business names match the details that you have entered.
Why is This Service Useful?
When you subscribe to the Business Name Alert service, you’ll be notified immediately if there is another business with a name that is similar to yours. This can be especially useful if you’re monitoring brand names or registered trademarks.
What Happens if There is a Similar Name?
If you would like to dispute a similar name, you can lodge an official complaint with ACRA. The complaint must be lodged within 12-months from the date it was registered with ACRA. Anything after the 12-month period may be rejected by ACRA.
Alternative options to resolve the issue of a similar name would be:
- To consider changing your own business name.
- Take independent action to enforce your business’s intellectual property rights.
- Put in a request for the other business to change their name.
- Let your customers know to avoid any possible name confusion.
How to Subscribe to the Business Name Alert Service?
Any authorised filing agent or officer of a business entity can register for this service. This service is provided to you for free and will be valid for up to three years. To subscribe, you will need to log on to your BizFile+ portal. Once you’re logged on, go to:
- File eServices
- Then click “Others”
- Finally, click “Name Alert Service”
Email alerts can only be sent to one email account at any given time. You can opt to create a new email, or use the same email you have that is registered with ACRA already. Each subscriber can monitor up to 10 names at a time. You will also be able to edit them anytime by following the same steps above. Suffixes like “Limited” and “Private” can be included in the list of names you are tracking.
You should receive an email confirming your subscription within the same day. After the three-year period, you may opt to renew your subscription 60 days from the date of expiry. You will receive an email reminder reminding you to renew the service if needed. You may unsubscribe to this service at any time.
