What must a Beggars Pizza franchisee do with the website maintained in connection with the restaurant upon termination of the franchise agreement?
Beggars_Pizza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Upon termination or expiration of the Agreement, all rights granted hereunder to Franchisee will forthwith terminate, and:
- 16.1 Cease Operations. Franchisee must immediately cease to operate the Restaurant, and will not thereafter, directly or indirectly, represent to the public or hold itself out as a present or former franchisee of Franchisor. Immediately upon the expiration or termination hereof, Franchisee must dispose of, and not sell, any proprietary or trade secret products sold hereunder including, without limitation, any products bearing the Proprietary Marks or contained in packaging bearing the Proprietary Marks.
- 16.2 Cease Use of Confidential Information and Marks. Franchisee must immediately and permanently cease to use, in any manner whatsoever, any confidential methods, procedures and techniques associated with the System; any Confidential Information; the Proprietary Mark "Beggars Pizza®" and all other Proprietary Marks and distinctive forms, slogans, signs, symbols, and devices associated with the System. In particular, Franchisee must cease to use, without limitation, all signs, advertising materials, displays, stationery, forms, products, and any other articles which display the Proprietary Marks.
- 16.3 Cancellation of Registrations. Franchisee must take such action as may be necessary to cancel any assumed name registration or equivalent registration obtained by Franchisee which contains the mark "Beggars Pizza®" or any other Proprietary Marks, and Franchisee must furnish Franchisor with evidence satisfactory to Franchisor of compliance with this obligation within five (5) days after termination or expiration of the Agreement.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 39)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
The 2025 Beggars Pizza Franchise Disclosure Document outlines the obligations of the franchisee upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement. Specifically, the franchisee must immediately cease operating the restaurant and cannot represent themselves as a current or former Beggars Pizza franchisee. They must also dispose of any proprietary or trade secret products, including those bearing Beggars Pizza's trademarks.
Furthermore, the franchisee is required to immediately and permanently discontinue using any confidential methods, procedures, and techniques associated with the Beggars Pizza system. This includes refraining from using the "Beggars Pizza®" trademark and all other proprietary marks, slogans, signs, symbols, and devices associated with the system. The franchisee must stop using all signs, advertising materials, displays, stationery, forms, products, and any other items displaying the proprietary marks.
Additionally, the franchisee must take necessary actions to cancel any assumed name registrations or equivalent registrations containing the "Beggars Pizza®" mark or other proprietary marks. Evidence of compliance with this obligation must be provided to Beggars Pizza within five days after the termination or expiration of the agreement. The FDD does not specifically mention what the franchisee must do regarding the website maintained in connection with the restaurant upon termination of the franchise agreement. A prospective franchisee should seek clarification from the franchisor regarding website ownership and control after termination.