New National Business Names Register is here

A new national business names registration system came into effect on 28 May 2012, replacing the former state and territory registers, including the Queensland Register kept by the Office of Fair Trading.

Under the previous system, all Australian businesses registered their name in the state or territory where the business was located, and each jurisdiction kept its own register. The new National Business Names Register will replace those registers with a single register.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission will run the register, with the purpose of protecting consumers by allowing them to identify the people or companies behind a business name or trading name. It will also mean a reduction in registration fees.

Assistant Crown Solicitor Melinda Pugh said business name holders in Queensland do not have to do anything during the transition.

All existing Queensland business names will automatically transfer to the national register on Monday, 28 May 2012.

“All of the business names will be transitioned to the National Business Names Register, even if the same name has been registered by different businesses in different jurisdictions. However an additional identifier – such as the word ´Queensland´ – will appear on the register to assist in differentiating between identical business names,” Melinda said.

“The national system will eliminate the need for businesses that trade across jurisdictions to register their name in multiple jurisdictions. Registration and renewal will be able to be carried out online, making the process easy and efficient.”

Crown Law’s experts can provide legal advice on how the new system will affect your Department and other matters relating to the use of business names.

^{The information in this publication is provided for general purposes only. It is not to be relied on as a substitute for legal advice. Crown Law and the Department of Justice and Attorney-General accept no liability for losses caused by reliance on the material in this publication. Formal legal advice should be obtained for particular matters.}