# Can I name a company the U.S.S.R. or the Soviet Union?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-name-a-company-the-u-s-s-r-or-the-soviet-union/429319
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 8, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-name-a-company-the-u-s-s-r-or-the-soviet-union/429319 "2007-12-08T20:20:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Chasing\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chasing_Dreams)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-name-a-company-the-u-s-s-r-or-the-soviet-union/429319/1 "2007-12-08T20:20:03Z")
Since the U.S.S.R./Soviet Union no longer exists, can I take the country name and use it for a company say in Canada or the US? I know that for trademarks you have to keep using them in order to claim ownership. However, since there is no U.S.S.R./Soviet Union anymore I think it would be beneficial to use the name for publicity purposes for an upstart company.
Any ideas?
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-name-a-company-the-u-s-s-r-or-the-soviet-union/429319/2 "2007-12-08T20:26:29Z")
There is no trademark protection for nation names. [Here](http://www.canadaco.com/), for example, is a company named Canada.
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### Author:  [@WoodenTaco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WoodenTaco)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-name-a-company-the-u-s-s-r-or-the-soviet-union/429319/3 "2007-12-08T20:40:52Z")
Could your logo be the flag of the USSR? Could the Canada Co. have the Canadian flag as its logo? Could it trademark that?
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### Author:  [@Chasing\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chasing_Dreams)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2007, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-name-a-company-the-u-s-s-r-or-the-soviet-union/429319/4 "2007-12-08T20:48:26Z")
The Soviet Union will rise again!
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2007, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-name-a-company-the-u-s-s-r-or-the-soviet-union/429319/5 "2007-12-08T21:09:43Z")
[QUOTE=WoodenTaco]
Could your logo be the flag of the USSR? Could the Canada Co. have the Canadian flag as its logo? Could it trademark that?
[/QUOTE]
You’d probably have hard time using an existing country’s flag for your logo, and wouldn’t want to, since you competitors could use it and claim they were copying the flag, too. You could, however, incorporate it as part of your logo.
Though why a business would want the hammer and sickle flag is beyond me.
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### Author:  [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2007, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-name-a-company-the-u-s-s-r-or-the-soviet-union/429319/6 "2007-12-08T21:50:23Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck]
You’d probably have hard time using an existing country’s flag for your logo, and wouldn’t want to, since you competitors could use it and claim they were copying the flag, too. You could, however, incorporate it as part of your logo.
Though why a business would want the hammer and sickle flag is beyond me.
[/QUOTE]
They sell farming equipment?
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2007, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-name-a-company-the-u-s-s-r-or-the-soviet-union/429319/7 "2007-12-08T22:52:32Z")
[QUOTE=Sapo]
They sell farming equipment?
[/QUOTE]
No. Baking soda. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2007, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-name-a-company-the-u-s-s-r-or-the-soviet-union/429319/8 "2007-12-08T22:53:53Z")
[QUOTE=Chasing Dreams]
The Soviet Union will rise again!
[/QUOTE]
As a joint venture of Pepsi, General Motors and Sanrio. 🙂