10 companies unfortunately named ISIS

Unfortunately for those companies called ISIS, the name now comes with a distasteful second meaning after the emergence of the Islamic State terrorist group.

But while companies such as ISIS Pharmaceuticals and ISIS Productions have decided to so far keep their name, other unfortunately named businesses have opted, or have been forced, to rebrand in order to disassociate with the terrorist group.

Isis Pharmaceuticals

US-based drugmaker Isis Pharmaceuticals is the latest company to consider a name change to distance itself from the Islamist State terrorist group following the recent attacks in Paris.

"We want the story to be about the medicines that we’re creating, and not about our name," D. Wade Walke, a spokesman for the drugmaker, said in an interview last week.

Also read: Paris attacks prompt Isis Pharmaceuticals to mull name change

"If it looks like it’s come to that point, and it may have - that it’s become too much of a distraction away from our core mission, and our focus - then it’s time for a change."

Named after Isis, the Egyptian goddess associated with good health, the company has had the moniker since its founding 26 years ago.

Its ticker symbol on the Nasdaq, ISIS, is also under review by the company.

ISIS productions

The UK-based production company has been making documentaries for over 20 years, specialising in high quality music documentaries.

The company clearly isn’t concerned about sharing its name with the terrorist group as it continued to trade as Isis Productions.

Isis Group Australia

Office fit-out and refurbishment specialist Isis Group Australia was forced to change its name to Shape in September last year for the safety of its employees.

The company said that while its business continued to improve in the 2015 financial year, the decision came down to what is in the best interest of the people involved with the business.

“Ensuring everyone feels safe, connected and proud of working with us is critical,” the rebranded company said of the changes.

Also read: How ISIS is creating its own financial system

ISIS Building Inspections

Formerly ISIS Building Inspections, the Christchurch business changed its trading name to BC Group and partnered with BC Online earlier this year.

Managing director Ian Petrie said the company had received bad feedback about its previous name and logo, forcing him to consider a rebrand.

Immigrant Settlement & Integrations Services (ISIS)

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia aimed at assimilating immigrants, previously known as Immigrant Settlement & Integration Services (ISIS), changed its name to Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) in November last year.

The name change was particularly important given the not-for-profit immigrant-focused agency which aims to help refugees and immigrants affected by the terrorist group.

“The tipping point came when we saw how it was affecting immigrants from that region,” the organisation said at the time it decided on the name change.

ISIS Power

ISIS Power, a suburban Chicago manufacturer of car electrical wiring systems, unplugged from its name in May this year.

Founder Jay Harris said that sharing a name with a militant Islamic group has proved bad for business recently, and the five-year-old company in the end rebranded as Infinitybox.

"When things started to go south in the Middle East, for a while we really held our ground," Harris said. "But unfortunately, it just got to a point where the connotation with our brand and some pretty awful people just became so negative."

Also read: ISIS Power unplugs from name

Isis Mobile Wallet

The Mobile payments startup Isis Mobile Wallet, backed by US wireless giants AT&T, Verzion and T-Mobile, changed its name to Softcard in September last year to avoid association with the Islamic militant group.

"However coincidental, we have no desire to share a name with this group and our hearts go out to those affected by this violence," chief executive Michael Abbott said in a statement.

Also read: Isis mobile wallet rebrands as Softcard

ISIS Chocolate

Belgian chocolate maker ISIS Chocolates changed its name to Libeert after the company suffered a slump in sales due to its name association with the terrorist group.

The company was founded in 1923 as Italo Suisse before rebranding as ISIS in late 2013 as the chocolate maker was no longer associated to either Italy or Switzerland, before rebranding again 12 months later.

ISIS Equity Partners

In late-2014, UK-based ISIS Equity Partners renamed itself as Living Bridge after announcing it was “no longer prepared to share [its name] with a terrorist organisation”.

Also read: How are ISIS funded?

The private equity firm’s decision to change its name ended a 20-year association with the Isis brand. 

ISIS Foundation

The ISIS Foundation changed its name to Adara Development, and its business, ISIS (Asia Pacific) to Adara Advisors in November 2014 after 14 years citing a “changed world”.

The group is an international development organisation and an Australian corporate advisory and private placement business which aims to improve children’s lives in remote areas of Nepal and Uganda.