• Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure
  • Appendix D - Foreign Entity Appendix
  • Appendix D - Foreign Entity Appendix

    Appendix DForeign Entity Appendix

    This table lists common abbreviations for entity designations used by various foreign countries to identify legal commercial entities. The appendix also includes a description of the foreign designation and, in some cases, the equivalent United States entity. See TMEP §803.03(i) for further information.

    Note re Canada: Canadian entities may be organized under either national or provincial laws. Therefore, if the applicant is organized under the laws of a Canadian province, entity designations such as "corporation of Ontario," “corporation of Quebec,” “company of British Columbia,” etc. are acceptable. Id.

    Abbr.

    Country

    Description

    A. en P.

    Mexico

    Asociación en Participación. Joint venture.

    AB

    Sweden

    Aktiebolag. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

    A.C.

    Mexico

    Asociación Civil. Civil Association of a non-commercial nature.

    ACE

    Portugal

    Agrupamento Complementar de Empresas. Association of businesses.

    AD

    Bulgaria

    Aktsionerno Druzhestvo. Limited Liability Company.

    AE

    Greece

    Anonymos Etairia. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

    AG

    Austria

    Aktiengesellschaft. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

    AG

    Germany

    Aktiengesellschaft. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

    AG

    Switzerland

    Aktiengesellschaft. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

    AL

    Norway

    Andelslag. Cooperative society.

    AmbA

    Denmark

    Andelsselskab. Limited Liability Cooperative.

    ANS

    Norway

    Ansvarlig selskap. Trading partnership.

    Anstalt

    Liechtenstein

    Anstalt. Establishment having attributes of a trust and a corporation.

    Apb

    Sweden

    Publikt Aktiebolag. Public Stock Corporation.

    ApS

    Denmark

    Anpartsselskab. Private Limited Company.

    ApS & Co. K/S

    Denmark

    Similar to a general partnership, but the entity with unlimited liability is a company (ApS) instead of an individual.

    AS

    Norway

    Aksjeselskap. Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

    A/S

    Denmark

    Aktieselskab. Public limited company.

    A.S.

    Czech Republic

    Akciova Spolecnost. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

    A.S.

    Estonia

    Aktsiaselts. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

    A.S.

    Slovakia

    Akciova Spolecnost. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

    A.S.

    Turkey

    Anonim Sirketi. Joint Stock Company, equivalent to a corporation.

    ASA

    Norway

    Allmennaksjeselskap. Public stock corporation.

    Association/ Associazione

    Switzerland/France/Italy

    Association.

    AVV

    Aruba

    Aruba Vrijgestelde Vennootschap. Aruba Exempt Company.

    BM or B.M.

    Israel

    Be'eravon Mugbal. Limited Company.

    BK or CC

    South Africa

    Beslote Korporasie. Close Corporation.

    Bt

    Hungary

    Betiti társaság. Limited Liability Partnership.

    B.V.

    Belgium

    Besloten Vennootschap. Limited Liability Company.

    B.V.

    Netherlands

    Besloten Vennootschap. Limited Liability Company.

    B.V.

    Netherlands Antilles

    Besloten Vennootschap. Limited Liability Company.

    BVBA

    Belgium

    Besloten Vennootschap met Beperkte Aansprakelijkheid. Flemish language equivalent of the SPRL -- means that the company is a private limited company.

    CA

    Ecuador

    Compania Anonima. Public Limited Company.

    c.c.c.

    Wales

    Cwmni Cyfyngedig Cyhoeddus. Public Limited Company, Welsh language equivalent to PLC.

    Co.

    Commonwealth countries

    Company. Acceptable to identify entities that are equivalent or analogous to United States corporations or associations.

    C.V.

    Netherlands

    Commanditaire Vennootschap. Limited Partnership.

    CVA

    Belgium

    Commanditaire Vennootschap op Aandelen. Limited partnership, with shares. Flemish language equivalent to the French language SCA.

    CVoA

    Netherlands

    Commanditaire Vennootschap op Andelen. Limited Partnership, with shares.

    Cyf.

    Wales

    Cyfyngedig. Private Limited Company, Welsh language equivalent to Ltd.

    DA

    Norway

    Selskap med delt ansar. Limited Partnership.

    d.d.

    Croatia

    Dionicko Drustvo. Joint stock company.

    d.d.

    Slovenia

    Delniska Druzba. Stock company

    DI

    Italy/Switzerland

    Ditta individuale. Sole Proprietorship.

    d.n.o.

    Slovenia

    Druzba z neomejeno odgovornostjo. Partnership, all partners have unlimited liability.

    d.o.o.

    Croatia

    Drustvo s Ogranicenom Odgovornoscu. Limited Liability Company.

    d.o.o.

    Slovenia

    Druzba z Omejeno Odgovornostjo. Limited Liability Company.

    EE

    Greece

    Eterrorrythmos. Limited liability partnership.

    EEG

    Austria

    Eingetragene Erwerbsgesellschaft. Professional Partnership.

    EIRL

    Peru

    Empresa Individual de Responsabilidad Limitada. Personal business with limited liability.

    EG

    Switzerland

    Einfache Gesellschaft. Simple Partnership.

    ELP

    Bahamas

    Exempted Limited Partnership. Has one or more limited partners, and one general partner, which must be a resident of the Bahamas or a company incorporated in the Bahamas.

    EOOD

    Bulgaria

    Ednolichno Druzhestvo s Ogranichena Otgovornost. Limited liability company.

    EPE

    Greece

    Etairia periorismenis efthinis. Limited liability company.

    EURL

    France

    Entreprise Unipersonnelle à Responsabilité Limitée. Incorporated sole proprietorship with limited liability.

    e.V.

    Germany

    Eingetragener Verein. Non-profit society/association.

    Einzelfirma

    Germany/Switzerland

    Einzelfirma. Sole Proprietorship.

    Fondation/ Fondazione

    Switzerland/France/Italy

    Foundation. Foundation having some attributes of a corporation.

    GbR

    Germany

    Gesellschaft burgerlichen Rechts. Partnership without a legal name.

    GCV

    Belgium

    Gewone Commanditaire Vennootschap. Limited Partnership. Flemish language equivalent to the French language SCS.

    G.K.

    Japan

    Godo kaisha or Godokaisha. A variant of the American limited liability company.

    Gen

    Switzerland

    Genossenschaft. Cooperative Society.

    GesBR

    Austria

    Bürgerlich rechtliche Erwerbsgesellschaft. Joint venture.

    GesmbH

    Austria

    Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung. Limited Liability Company. This abbreviation is only used in Austria (not Germany or Switzerland).

    GIE

    France

    Groupement d'intéret économique. Economic Grouping of Interest. Two or more persons or entities form an alliance with the goal of facilitating or developing economic activity of the members.

    GmbH & Co. KG

    Germany

    Limited partnership in which, typically, the sole general partner is a limited liability company.

    GmbH

    Austria

    Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung. Limited Liability Company.

    GmbH

    Germany

    Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung. Limited Liability Company.

    GmbH

    Switzerland

    Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung. Limited Liability Company.

    GMK

    Japan

    Gomei Kaisha. Similar to an American general partnership.

    GSK

    Japan

    Goshi Kaisha or Goshikaisha. Similar to an American limited partnership.

    HB

    Sweden

    Handelsbolag. Trading Partnership.

    hf

    Iceland

    Hlutafelag. Limited liability company.

    I/S

    Denmark

    Interessentskab. General partnership.

    JSC

    China (except Macau and Hong Kong)

    Joint stock company or company limited by shares.

    j.t.d.

    Croatia

    Javno Trgovacko Drustvo. Unlimited liability company.

    KA/S

    Denmark

    Kommanditaktieselskab. Limited partnership with share capital.

    Kb

    Sweden

    Kommanditbolag. Limited partnership.

    KD

    Bulgaria

    Komanditno Drushestwo. Partnership.

    k.d.

    Croatia

    Komanditno Drustvo. Limited Partnership.

    k.d.

    Slovenia

    Komanditna Druzba. Limited Partnership

    KDA

    Bulgaria

    Komanditno drushestwo s akzii. Partnership with shares.

    k.d.d.

    Slovenia

    Komanditna delniska druzba. Limited Partnership with shares.

    KEG

    Austria

    Kommanditerwerbsgesellschaft. Limited Registered Partnership.

    Kft

    Hungary

    Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság. Limited liability company.

    KG

    Austria

    Kommanditgesellschaft. A limited partnership under a legal name whose entity survives even though the partners might change.

    KG

    Germany

    Kommanditgesellschaft. A limited partnership under a legal name whose entity survives even though the partners might change.

    KG

    Switzerland

    Kommanditgesellschaft. A limited partnership under a legal name whose entity survives even though the partners might change.

    KGaA

    Germany

    Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien. Limited partnership with shares.

    K.K.

    Japan

    Kabushiki Kaisha. Joint Stock Company.

    Kkt

    Hungary

    Közkereseti Társaság. General Partnership.

    KolG

    Switzerland

    Kollektivgesellschaft. General Partnership.

    Kol. SrK

    Turkey

    Kollektiv Sirket. Unlimited liability partnership.

    Kom. SrK

    Turkey

    Komandit Sirket. Limited liability partnership.

    KommAG

    Switzerland

    Kommanditaktiengesellschaft.Partnership limited by shares.

    k.s.

    Czech Republic

    Komanditni Spolecnost. Limited partnership.

    K/S

    Denmark

    Kommanditselskab. Limited partnership.

    KS

    Norway

    Kommandittselskap. Limited partnership.

    Kv

    Hungary

    Közös vállalat. Joint Venture.

    Ky

    Finland

    Kommandiittiyhtiö. Limited Partnership.

    L.D.A.

    China (Macau)

    Limited liability company by quotas.

    L.D.A.

    Macau

    Limited liability company by quotas.

    Lda

    Portugal

    Sociedade por Quotas Limitada. Similar to an American Limited Liability Company.

    LDC

    Bahamas

    Limited Duration Company. A company, but it has a life of 30 years or less.

    Ltd.

    Commonwealth countries; China (sometimes appears as Co., Ltd.); Republic of Korea (South Korea)

    Limited Company or Limited Liability Company. A company in which the liability of the shareholders is limited.

    Ltda

    Brazil

    Sociedade por Quotas de Responsabilidade Limitada. Similar to a limited liability company.

    NV

    Netherlands

    Naamloze Vennootschap. Public limited liability company, equivalent to a corporation.

    NV

    Belgium

    Naamloze Vennootschap. Public limited liability company, equivalent to a corporation.

    NV

    Netherlands Antilles

    Naamloze Vennootschap. Public limited liability company, equivalent to a corporation.

    NV

    Suriname

    Naamloze Vennootschap. Public limited liability company, equivalent to a corporation.

    OE

    Greece

    Omorrythmos. Partnership.

    OEG

    Austria

    Offene Erwerbsgesellschaft. Open Trading Partnership, General Registered Partnership or General Professional Partnership.

    OHG

    Austria

    Offene Handelsgesellschaft. Partnership.

    OHG

    Germany

    Offene Handelsgesellschaft. Partnership.

    OOD

    Bulgaria

    Druzhestvo s Ogranichena Otgovornost. Limited Liability Company.

    OAO

    Russian Federation

    Otkrytoe Aktsionernoe Obshchestvo. Joint Stock Company.

    OOO

    Russian Federation

    Obschestvo s ogranichennoy otveststvennostyu. Limited Liability Company.

    Estonia

    Osaühing. Private limited liability company.

    Oy

    Finland

    Osakeyhtiö. Private limited company.

    Oyj

    Finland

    Julkinen osakeyhtiö. Public limited company.

    P/L or Pty. Ltd.

    Australia

    Proprietary Limited Company.

    PC Ltd

    Australia

    Public Company Limited by Shares.

    PLC

    UK & Ireland

    Public Limited Company.

    PMA

    Indonesia

    Penanaman Modal Asing. Foreign joint venture company.

    PMDN

    Indonesia

    Penanaman Modal Dalam Negeri. Domestic Capital investment company.

    PrC

    Ireland

    Private Company limited by shares.

    Prp. Ltd.

    Botswana

    Private company limited by shares.

    PT

    Indonesia

    Perseroan Terbuka. Limited company.

    PT Tbk

    Indonesia

    Perseroan Terbatas, Terbuka. Stock corporation.

    Pty.

    Australia

    Proprietary Company.

    RI

    Switzerland

    Raison individuelle. Sole Proprietorship.

    RAS

    Estonia

    Riiklik Aktsiaselts. State (owned) Joint Stock company.

    Rt

    Hungary

    Részvénytársaság. Stock Company.

    S. de R.L.

    Mexico

    Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada. Limited Liability Company.

    S. en C.

    Colombia & Peru

    Sociedad en Comandita. Limited Partnership.

    S. en N.C.

    Mexico

    Sociedad en Nombre Colectivo. General Partnership.

    S/A

    Brazil

    Sociedade Anônima. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    SA

    Argentina

    Sociedad Anonima. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    SA

    Belgium

    Société Anonyme. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    S.A.

    China (Macau)

    Limited liability company by shares.

    SA

    France

    Société Anonyme. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    SA

    Ivory Coast

    Société Anonyme. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    SA

    Luxembourg

    Société Anonyme. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    S.A.

    Macau

    Limited liability company by shares.

    SA

    Mexico

    Sociedad Anónima. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    SA

    Morocco

    Société Anonyme. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    SA

    Poland

    Spółka Akcyjna. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    SA

    Portugal

    Sociedad Anónima. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    SA

    Romania

    Societate pe actiuni. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    SA

    Spain

    Sociedad Anonima. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    SA

    Switzerland

    Société anonyme or Società anonima. Joint stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    S.A.

    Brazil

    Sociedade por Ações. Privately-held company.

    SA de CV

    Mexico

    Sociedad Anonima. Joint stock company, with variable capital, equivalent to a corporation.

    SAFI

    Uruguay

    Sociedad Anonima Financiera de Inversion. Offshore company.

    Sagl

    Switzerland

    Società a garanzia limitata. Limited Liability Company.

    S.A.I.C.A.

    Venezuela

    Sociedad Anónima Inscrita de Capital Abierto. Open Capital Company .

    SApA

    Italy/Switzerland

    Societa in Accomandita per Azioni. Partnership limited by shares.

    Sarl

    France

    Société à responsabilité limitée. Limited Liability Company.

    Sarl

    Luxembourg

    Société à Responsabilité Limitée. Limited Liability Company.

    Sàrl or SARL

    Switzerland

    Société à responsabilité limitée. Limited Liability Company.

    SAS

    France

    Société par Actions Simplifiée. Simplified Joint Stock Company, similar to a limited liability company. Note that " societe par actions " by itself is not an official French entity designation.

    SAS

    Italy

    Societá in Accomandita Semplice. Limited Partnership.

    S.C.

    China (Macau)

    Mixed liability company by shares.

    SC

    France/Switzerland

    Société en commandite. Partnership with limited and general partners.

    SC

    France

    Société civile. Partnership with full liability.

    S.C.

    Macau

    Mixed liability company by shares.

    SC

    Poland

    Spólka prawa cywilnego. Partnership with all partners having unlimited liability.

    SC

    Italy/Switzerland

    Societa cooperativa. Cooperative society. This type of entity may be incorporated with either limited or unlimited liability.

    S.C.

    Spain

    Sociedad en Commandita. General Partnership.

    SC par action

    Switzerland

    Société en commandite par actions. Partnership limited by shares.

    S.C.A.

    China (Macau)

    Mixed liability company by shares.

    SCA

    France/Belgium/ Switzerland

    Société en commandite par actions. Limited partnership with share capital, occupies a position between a limited partnership and a corporation.

    S.C.A.

    Macau

    Mixed liability company by shares.

    SCA

    Romania

    Societate in còmandita pe actiuni. Limited liability partnership with shares.

    SCOP

    France

    Société cooperative et participative. Cooperative society. This type of entity may be incorporated with either limited or unlimited liability.

    Scoop

    Switzerland

    Société cooperative or Società cooperativa. Cooperative society.

    SCP

    Brazil

    Sociedade em Conta de Participacão. Partnership where there is one partner assumed responsible for running the business.

    SCS

    Belgium & France

    Société en Commandite Simple. A special partnership very similar to an American limited partnership

    S.C.S.

    Brazil

    Sociedade em Comandita Simples. Limited Partnership.

    SCS

    Mexico

    Sociedad en Comandita Simple. Limited Partnership.

    SCS

    Romania

    Societate in comandita simpla. Limited liability partnership.

    Sdn Bhd

    Malaysia

    Sendirian Berhad. Limited Liability Company.

    SE

    European Union

    Societas Europae. European Company. A Public Limited Company, equivalent to a corporation.

    SENC

    Luxembourg

    Société en Nom Collectif. General Partnership.

    SGPS

    Portugal

    Sociedade gestora de participações socialis. Holding Enterprise.

    SK

    Poland

    Spólka komandytowa. Limited liability partnership.

    SL

    Spain

    Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada. Limited liability company, may be identified as a joint stock company with limited liability.

    SLNE

    Spain

    Sociedad Limitada Nueva Empresa. Limited Liability New Business, a modified Limited Liability Company.

    SLU

    Spain

    Sociedad Limitada Unipersonal. Limited liability company with one shareholder.

    S.N.C.

    China (Macau)

    Unlimited liability company with two or more owners.

    SNC

    France/Switzerland

    Société en nom collectif. General Partnership.

    SNC

    Italy/Switzerland

    Società in Nome Collettivo. General Partnership.

    S.N.C.

    Macau

    Unlimited liability company with two or more owners.

    SNC

    Romania

    Societate in Nume Colectiv. General Partnership.

    SNC

    Spain

    Sociedad en Nombre Colectivo. General Partnership.

    SOPARFI

    Luxembourg

    Société de Participation Financière. Holding company.

    SP

    France

    Société en participation. Undisclosed partnership.

    SpA

    Italy

    Società per Azioni. Limited share company, or joint-stock company, equivalent to a corporation.

    spol s.r.o.

    Czech Republic

    Spolecnost S Rucenim Omezenym. Limited Liability Company.

    SPRL

    Belgium

    Société Privée à Responsabilité Limitée. French language equivalent to a private limited liability company.

    SRC

    Spain

    Sociedad Regular Colectiva. A regular collective company, similar to a partnership.

    Sp. z.o.o.

    Poland

    Spólka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia. Limited liability company, privately-held.

    Srl

    Chile

    Sociedad de responsabilidad limitada. Limited Liability company.

    Srl

    Italy

    Società a Responsabilità Limitata. Limited liability (joint stock) company.

    Srl

    Romania

    Societate cu Raspundere Limitata. Limited-liability company, privately-held.

    SS

    Italy/Switzerland

    Società Semplice. Simple Partnership.

    SS

    Switzerland

    Société Simple. Simple Partnership

    Stiftung

    Germany/Switzerland

    Stiftung. Foundation having some attributes of a corporation.

    Stiftung

    Liechtenstein

    Stiftung. Trust.

    td

    Slovenia

    Tiha druzba. Sole proprietorship.

    TLS

    Turkey

    Türk Limited Şirketi. Private Limited Liability Company.

    UG (haftungsbeschränkt)

    Germany

    Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschränkt). Limited Liability Company.

    Verein

    Switzerland

    Verein. Association.

    VOF

    Netherlands

    Vennootschap onder firma. General partnership.

    v.o.s.

    Czech Rep

    Verejna Obchodni Spolecnost. General partnership.

    YK

    Japan

    Yugen Kaisha. Limited company, similar to an American closely held corporation. Abolished in 2006 and replaced with the Godo Kaisha .

    Yuhan Hoesa

    Republic of Korea (South Korea)

    Yuhan Hoesa. Equivalent to a limited liability company; may also be identified as a limited company or private limited company.