- 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.
OÜ | 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.

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