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HomeCorporations CodeGENERAL PROVISIONS§ 22000 Unauthorized Name Use Fraud

§ 22000 Unauthorized Name Use Fraud

Corporations Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 22000 Unauthorized Name Use Fraud

This law makes it a crime to put someone else's name on a company flyer or ad without their permission, if you do it to trick people into thinking they are part of the company.

Key Takeaways

  • •You must have permission before using another person's name in any business advertisement.
  • •Doing it to make people think the person is an officer, agent, member, or promoter of the company is illegal.
  • •The offense is treated as a misdemeanor.

Example

John creates a flyer for a new tech startup and writes his friend Sarah's name as a co‑founder, even though Sarah never agreed to be involved.

Because John used Sarah's name without her okay to make the startup look more trustworthy, he could be charged with a misdemeanor under this law.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 22000 Unauthorized Name Use Fraud

Every person who, without being authorized so to do, subscribes the name of another to or inserts the name of another in any prospectus, circular, or other advertisement, or announcement of any joint stock association, existing or intended to be formed, with intent to permit the document to be published, and thereby to lead persons to believe that the person whose name is so subscribed is an officer, agent, member, or promoter of such association, is guilty of a misdemeanor. (Enacted by Stats. 1947, Ch. 1038.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

misdemeanorjoint stock associationprospectuscircularadvertisementofficeragentmemberpromoter

Related Statutes

  • § 12676 Unauthorized Name Use In Prospectus
  • § 8816 Unauthorized Corporate Name Use
  • § 2257 Unauthorized Corporate Name Use
  • § 12671 Fraudulent Membership Certificate Issuance
  • § 18605 Nonprofit Association Liability Limitation

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 22000.
View Official Source