47-22-8.1. Use of same or similar name prohibited--Non-English name to be transliterated.

In order to protect the public against confusion between corporations or between corporations and limited partnerships, the name of any nonprofit corporation:

(1)    May not be the same as or must be distinguishable upon the records of the secretary of state from the name of any other corporation, whether for profit or not for profit, organized under the laws of this state; or the name of any foreign corporation, whether for profit or not for profit, authorized to engage in any business in this state; or any corporate name reserved or registered as permitted by the laws of this state; or the name of any limited partnership certified or registered in this state. Corporate names or limited partnership names already in use, with generic, proper, geographical, or descriptive terms which have acquired a secondary meaning shall be protected. This subdivision does not apply if the applicant files with the secretary of state either:

(a)    The written consent signed by the president or a vice-president and by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the other corporation; by a holder of a reserved or registered name; or by a general partner of a limited partnership to use the same or a distinguishable name;

(b)    A certified copy of a final decree of a court of competent jurisdiction establishing the prior right of the applicant to the use of such name in this state; or

(c)    In the case of a foreign corporation if the corporate name is not available for use, a resolution of its board of directors adopting an assumed name for use in transacting business in this state, which assumed name is not deceptively similar to the name of any domestic corporation, any foreign corporation authorized to engage in any business in this state, or any corporate name reserved or registered as permitted by the laws of this state, or the name of any limited partnership certified or registered in this state, or any other assumed name filed with the secretary of state by a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this state;

(2)    Shall be transliterated into letters of the English alphabet, if it is not in English.

Source: SL 1989, ch 393, § 4; SL 1992, ch 323, § 1; SL 1998, ch. 272, § 1.