Text of the provision
Art. 378. The unauthorized or unlawful use of another person's surname gives a right of action to the latter.
Civil Code of the Philippines, Republic Act No. 386, approved June 18, 1949, effective August 30, 1950. Reproduced in full; verified verbatim against the LawPhil and ChanRobles official-text renderings.
What this article means
The unauthorized or unlawful use of another person’s surname gives that person a right of action. The wrong lies in using the surname without leave, whatever the user’s motive.
Related provisions
- Article 377 — Usurpation of a Name.
- Article 379 — Pen Names and Stage Names.
Cases interpreting this article
- Authorities on this article will be added here as each is verified against primary sources.
Note. The text of the provision above is reproduced in full from the official enactment (Republic Act No. 386), verified against the LawPhil and ChanRobles renderings. The annotation and commentary around it are the work of Vivas & Nobles Law Office and are general legal information, not legal advice. How a provision applies to a particular situation depends on facts that only a lawyer reviewing your case can assess.