(a) Voluntary registration.--Any one or more entities may elect to register a fictitious name under this chapter for the purpose of establishing a public record of their relationship to any business or other activity carried on under or through such fictitious name.

(b) Mandatory registration.--

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any entity which either alone or in combination with any other entity conducts any business in this Commonwealth under or through any fictitious name shall register the fictitious name under this chapter and shall amend such registration whenever necessary to maintain the accuracy of the information disclosed thereby.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any:

(i) Nonprofit or professional activities.

(ii) Activities which are expressly or impliedly prohibited by law from being carried on under a fictitious name.

(iii) (Deleted by amendment).

(iv) Unincorporated association.

(v) (Deleted by amendment).

(vi) (Deleted by amendment).

(vii) (Deleted by amendment).

(viii) (Deleted by amendment).

(c) Other restrictions unaffected.--The registration of a fictitious name under this chapter shall not be a defense to any action or proceeding brought to enforce any law which expressly or impliedly prohibits any activity from being carried on under a fictitious name.

(d) Effect of registration.--The registration of a name under this chapter does not render the name unavailable for use by another entity.

(Dec. 21, 1988, P.L.1444, No.177, eff. Oct. 1, 1989; Dec. 7, 1994, P.L.703, No.106, eff. 60 days; June 22, 2000, P.L.356, No.43, eff. 60 days; Oct. 22, 2014, P.L.2640, No.172, eff. July 1, 2015)

2014 Amendment. Act 172 added subsec. (d).

2000 Amendment. Act 43 deleted subsec. (b)(2)(iii), (v), (vi), (vii) and (viii).

1988 Amendment. Act 177 amended subsec. (b)(2).