Does the Aw franchisee retain any rights to the telephone numbers and social media accounts after the assignment?
Aw Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- (d) promptly notify the telephone company and all listing agencies of the termination or expiration of your right to use any telephone number and any telephone directory listings associated with the Marks and to authorize transfer of same to or at our direction.
You acknowledge that as between the Company and you, we have the sole right to and interest in all telephone numbers and directory listings associated with the Marks, and you authorize us, and by execution of the Exhibit 4 Collateral Assignment of Telephone Number have appointed us and any of our officers as your attorney-in-fact, to direct the telephone company and all listing agencies to transfer same to us or at its direction, should you fail or refuse to do so, and the telephone company and all listing agencies may accept such direction or this Agreement as conclusive of our exclusive rights in such telephone numbers and directory listings and its authority to direct their transfer;
(e) assign to us or our designee all of your right, title and interest in and to any domain name registrations, any web sites, and any listings or presence on any social media platforms or social media networks, or other presence on the internet using the Marks, including passwords and account manager access, and shall promptly notify the necessary parties of the termination of your license to use the Marks, and therefore, your right to use any domain name, website, or other presence on the internet using the Marks, and to authorize a transfer of same to us or our designee;
(f) furnish to us within thirty (30) days after the effective date of termination or expiration evidence satisfactory to us of your compliance with the foregoing obligations.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 39–40)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aw's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee does not retain any rights to the telephone numbers and social media accounts after the termination or expiration of the franchise agreement. The franchisee's right to use telephone numbers, directory listings, and social media accounts associated with Aw's trademarks is solely due to a limited license granted by Aw.
Upon termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement, the franchisee must promptly notify the telephone company and all listing agencies of the termination of their right to use any telephone number and any telephone directory listings associated with Aw's Marks and authorize the transfer of these to Aw. The franchisee also agrees to assign to Aw all rights to any domain name registrations, websites, and listings or presence on any social media platforms using Aw's Marks, including passwords and account manager access.
To ensure compliance, Aw is authorized to direct the telephone company and listing agencies to transfer the phone numbers and listings if the franchisee fails to do so. The franchisee must also provide evidence of compliance with these obligations within thirty days after the termination or expiration date. This ensures that Aw maintains control over its brand identity and customer communications after a franchise agreement ends.