What is a Pennsylvania fictitious name?

The premise for fictitious names in Pennsylvania is that the public has a right to know with whom it is doing business. Thus, Pennsylvania law requires any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or other form of association conducting commercial activities under a name other than his/her/its real or proper name to register that name with the Pennsylvania Department of State. It is important to point out that registering a fictitious name does not create a new busine