How will a Buff City Soap franchisee display the Marks at the Makery?
Buff_City_Soap Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisee may not directly or indirectly at any time or in any manner use any Mark, including any use of Marks in a derogatory, negative, or other inappropriate manner in any media, including, but not limited to, print or electronic media; use any colorable imitation of a Mark in any manner or for any purpose; utilize for any purpose any trade name, trade or service mark or other commercial symbol or other indicia that indicates or suggests a connection or association with Franchisor, the Makery or the Brand; identify any business as a former Makery; or identify itself as one of Franchisor's licensees or franchisees (except with respect to other Buff City Soap makeries Franchisee owns and operates under continuing agreements with Franchisor).
Franchisee will take such action as may be required to cancel all fictitious or assumed names or equivalent registrations relating to its use of any Mark.
- (c) System and Manuals.
Franchisee will immediately cease to use the System and Confidential Information in any business or otherwise; and return to Franchisor all Confidential Information, including without limitation, copies of the Manuals and any other proprietary or confidential materials that Franchisor has loaned to Franchisee.
- (d) Disassociation in Communication Methods.
Franchisee will assign to Franchisor (or its designee) or cancel any electronic mail address, domain name, search engine, website, or Social Media account that associates Franchisee with Franchisor, the Makery, System, or Marks.
Franchisee will notify the telephone company and all telephone directory publishers of the expiration or termination of Franchisee's right to use any telephone, telecopy, or other numbers and any telephone directory listings associated with any Mark, authorize the transfer of such numbers and directory listings to Franchisor, or, at Franchisor's direction, instruct the telephone company to forward all calls made to Franchisee's telephone numbers to numbers Franchisor specifies.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 69–186)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Buff City Soap Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee cannot use the Marks in a derogatory or negative way in any media. The franchisee also cannot use any imitation of a Mark for any purpose. The franchisee is not allowed to use any trade name, service mark, or commercial symbol that indicates a connection with Buff City Soap. The franchisee can only identify themselves as a Buff City Soap franchisee if they own and operate other Buff City Soap makeries under agreements with the Franchisor.
As part of the franchise agreement, the franchisee must cancel any assumed names relating to the use of any Mark. Upon termination of the franchise agreement, the franchisee must stop using the Buff City Soap System and confidential information. All confidential information, including manuals, must be returned to Buff City Soap.
Additionally, the franchisee is obligated to transfer or cancel any digital presence (email, domain, social media) that associates them with Buff City Soap. They must also notify the phone company about the termination of their right to use any phone numbers associated with the Marks, and transfer those numbers to Buff City Soap or forward calls as directed by Buff City Soap.