[ars]

Fake business name is just another word for business name, also called doing business as, and fictitious name.

It just means it's a name you are using, but it's not your name.

All non-corporation company names are legally fake names.

[netsp]

I think the implication of 'fake business name' is business name that is not registered as your business. Otherwise, why have a qualifier?

Anyway, what I mean is that the OP messed up with registering his business.

[ars]

Not all states require businesses to register DBA (doing business as) names.

[netsp]

An unregistered DBA wouldn't have a location.

[qaexl]

You guys are assuming that the specifics of DBA works the same in England.

There's no point in setting up a DBA with a limited liability entity. Why? You're basically saying, "I don't want the limited liability".

I don't know the specifics of this transaction, and it really, really looks sketchy. The only reason I even think it has credibility is because it was posted in detail on HN. In most other forums, I would chalk this up to a Nigerian scam. Seriously.

I still think there may be a way to pull out the money if the English Ltd has actually been established and the OP has control over it. Having the English Ltd establish a bank account, pull the money from that. If Apple balks over that, than that really is Apple's fault. As the situation stands though, if the OP went public over this, I think I'd have the same reaction as the lady who sued McDonald's over spilling her own coffee on her lap, or those patent trolls out in Texas.