“Farm,” as used in this article, includes ranch, estate and villa.
Trade Names and DesignationsFarm Names
Section § 14460
This law clarifies that the term "farm" refers not just to traditional farms, but also includes ranches, estates, and villas.
farm definition ranch estate
Section § 14461
If you own or rent a farm in California, you can register your farm's name with the Secretary of State. When you do this, you'll get a certificate showing your farm's name, location, and your name as the owner, but you need to pay a fee stated in another part of the state’s regulations.
Any farm owner or lessee in this state may register the name of his or her farm with the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of State shall issue a certificate setting forth the name and location of the farm and the name of the owner upon payment of the fee as set forth in subdivision (g) of Section 12193 of the Government Code.
farm name registration farm owner lessee
Section § 14462
If you sell or market products grown on a farm, you can use the farm's name as a trademark for those products. This use follows the same rules and responsibilities as other trademarks according to the law.
Any person selling or marketing the products grown on a farm may use the name of the farm as a trade-mark on the products of the farm, in the same manner as provided for other trade-marks, and subject to the same rights and duties, as provided in this code.
farm products trademark use farm name
Section § 14463
This law states that when something is registered under this article, it has the same legal standing and benefits as if it were a registered trademark.
Registration under this article shall have the same effect as the registration of a trade-mark.
trade-mark registration registration effect legal standing
Section § 14464
In California, once a farm name is registered, no other farm can use that exact name unless they add extra words to make it different. The Secretary of State is responsible for ensuring the correct person registers the farm name.
When any name has been registered as the name of any farm, that name shall not be registered as the name of any other farm in this State, unless designating words have been prefixed or added thereto. The Secretary of State shall register such name only for the person entitled thereto.
farm name registration exclusive farm name name designation
Section § 14465
This law makes it illegal to register or use a name in California for yourself if you know it's already being used by someone else for a farm. If you do this, you're committing a misdemeanor, which is a type of crime.
Any person who registers as his own, any name already in use in this State, knowing that the name is already adopted as the name of a farm, or makes use of the name when regularly registered and in use by any other person entitled thereto under this article is guilty of a misdemeanor.
name registration name already in use farm name
