N.Y. General Business Law Section 209-C
Registration of identical, similar or misleading names prohibited

The secretary of state shall not record, register or file any name or designation identical with or similar to any other name or designation filed or registered as herein provided as would be calculated to deceive or mislead the public, unless such prior registration shall have been revoked as herein provided. The supreme court may, in an action brought for that purpose by any person or corporation aggrieved thereby against any other person or corporation who or which has already filed or registered any such name or designation, direct the revocation of any such registration where it shall be determined that the person who has already registered the same has not the right to use such name or designation because of the prior use thereof by another. No person other than the proprietor of such name or designation, which has been filed in the office of the secretary of state and in the office of the county clerk, as aforesaid, shall, without the written consent of such proprietor, in any manner whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, use such name or designation, or any other name or designation for the name of an hotel or motel in the state of New York which may be so similar as to deceive or mislead the public. Any person or corporation may assign to any other person or corporation all right, title and interest in, to and under the aforesaid certificate of the secretary of state. Nonuse of the name or designation described in any certificate of the secretary of state for the period of one year shall operate as an abandonment of the right to use such name or designation thereafter.

Source: Section 209-C — Registration of identical, similar or misleading names prohibited, https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/209-C (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Oct. 25, 2025).

200
Safes 201
Liability for loss of clothing and other personal property limited 202
Loss by fire 203
Value of animals 203–A
Hotel and motel keeper’s liability for property in transport 203–B
Posting of statute 204
Register to be kept 204–A
Safety chain latches required 205
Human trafficking awareness and training 206
Rates to be posted 206–A
Advertising of rates for motels and motor courts 206–B
Posting of rates for motels and motor courts 206–C
Frauds on guests of hotels, boarding houses, rooming-houses and lodging houses 206–D
Posting of rates of various type accommodations 206–E
Telephone call charges 206–F
Information concerning services for human trafficking victims 207
Sale of unclaimed articles and other property covered by his lien 208
Disposition of proceeds of sale 209
Certain sales after eighteen months 209–A
Registration of hotel and motel names 209–B
Index of registrants and registered names 209–C
Registration of identical, similar or misleading names prohibited 209–D
Penalties for violation 209–E
Preservation of existing remedies 209–F
Notice of assignment 209–G
Notice of abandonment

California:	Codes
Colorado:	C.R.S.
Florida:	Statutes
Nevada:	NRS
New York:	Laws
Oregon:	OAR, ORS
Texas:	Statutes
World:	Rome Statute, International Dictionary

N.Y. General Business Law Section 209-C Registration of identical, similar or misleading names prohibited

N.Y. General Business Law Section 209-C
Registration of identical, similar or misleading names prohibited