Is there a deadline for the Aw franchisee to assign the telephone numbers and social media accounts?
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, a franchisee must assign telephone numbers and social media accounts upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement. Specifically, the franchisee is required to promptly notify the telephone company and listing agencies about the termination of their right to use any telephone number or directory listings associated with Aw's marks and authorize the transfer of these to Aw. Additionally, the franchisee must assign all rights to domain name registrations, websites, and social media presences using Aw's marks to Aw or its designee.
The FDD states that the franchisee must furnish evidence of compliance with these obligations within thirty (30) days after the termination or expiration date. This includes notifying necessary parties about the termination of the license to use Aw's marks and authorizing the transfer of the domain name, website, or other online presence.
In practical terms, this means that a departing Aw franchisee has a 30-day window after the franchise agreement ends to ensure that all telephone numbers, social media accounts, and online assets associated with the Aw brand are properly transferred back to the company. Failure to comply within this timeframe could potentially lead to legal or financial repercussions, as Aw retains the sole right to these assets.