What must a Belocal franchisee do with the Marks, Copyrighted Materials, and Confidential Information upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement?

According to Belocal's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, a franchisee must promptly discontinue all use of the Marks, Copyrighted Materials, and Confidential Information. The franchisee is required to take appropriate action to return to Belocal, or deliver to a transferee if Belocal designates, all Copyrighted Materials and Confidential Information in the franchisee's possession or control.

This means that a franchisee can no longer use Belocal's trademarks, copyrighted content, or any confidential business information after the agreement ends. This includes ceasing to operate the franchised business and not holding themselves out as a Belocal franchisee, except for disclosing past experience on a resume.

Additionally, the franchisee must return all physical and digital materials containing confidential information to Belocal. This is a standard practice in franchising to protect the brand's intellectual property and trade secrets. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in legal action by Belocal to protect its interests.