factual

After termination or expiration of the 7 Brew franchise agreement, what are franchisees and their owners prohibited from doing regarding business identification?

7_Brew Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, you must de-identify the Store in compliance with this Section 19.B and as we reasonably require. De-identification includes, but is not limited to, taking the following actions:

  • (1) beginning immediately upon the effective date of termination or expiration, you and your owners may not directly or indirectly at any time afterward or in any manner (except in connection with other 7 BREW Stores you or they own and operate): (a) identify yourself or themselves in any business as a current or former 7 BREW Store or as one of our current or former franchisees; (b) use any Mark, any colorable imitation of a Mark, any trademark, service mark, or commercial symbol that is confusingly similar to any Mark, any copyrighted items, or other indicia of a 7 BREW Store for any purpose; or (c) use for any purpose any trade dress, trade name, trademark, service mark, or other commercial symbol suggesting or indicating a connection or association with us.
  • (2) immediately upon the effective date of termination or expiration, you must take the action required to cancel all fictitious or assumed-name or equivalent registrations relating to your use of any Mark;

  • (3) you must at your own cost and without any payment from us for such items, at our option, deliver to us, make available to us for pick-up, or destroy, in any case within twenty (20) days after the De-identification Date (defined below), all signs, Marketing Materials, forms, and other materials containing any Mark.

If you fail to do so voluntarily when we require, we and our representatives may enter the Store at our convenience and remove these items without liability to you, the landlord, or any other third party for trespass or any other claim.

You must reimburse our costs of doing so;

Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 82–83)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to 7 Brew's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, after the franchise agreement terminates or expires, franchisees and their owners face specific restrictions to de-identify the store. They cannot identify themselves in any business as a current or former 7 Brew store or franchisee, except when operating other 7 Brew stores.

Specifically, franchisees and their owners are prohibited from using any 7 Brew marks, imitations of those marks, or any confusingly similar trademarks or commercial symbols. They also cannot use copyrighted items or other elements that suggest a connection to 7 Brew. This extends to trade dress, trade names, service marks, or any commercial symbols that might indicate an association with 7 Brew.

To comply, franchisees must cancel all assumed-name registrations related to the use of any 7 Brew mark immediately upon termination or expiration. Within 20 days after the de-identification date, franchisees must deliver, make available for pick-up, or destroy all signs, marketing materials, forms, and other materials containing any 7 Brew mark, at their own cost. If the franchisee fails to do so, 7 Brew has the right to enter the store and remove these items at the franchisee's expense.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.