Can a Buff City Soap franchisee use any Mark as part of an Entity name?
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.
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.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 69–186)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Buff City Soap Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee is prohibited from using any Buff City Soap Mark, or any similar imitation of a Mark, in any manner or for any purpose. This restriction extends to the franchisee's business name and any other commercial symbols that might suggest an association with Buff City Soap.
Specifically, the franchisee cannot use any trade name, trade or service mark, or other commercial symbol that indicates or suggests a connection with Buff City Soap, the Makery, or the Brand. The franchisee also cannot identify any business as a former Makery or identify itself as one of Buff City Soap's licensees or franchisees, except when identifying other Buff City Soap makeries that the franchisee owns and operates under agreements with Buff City Soap.
Furthermore, the franchisee is required to take action to cancel any assumed names or registrations that relate to the use of any Mark. This ensures that the franchisee does not create any confusion in the marketplace regarding their affiliation with Buff City Soap. Upon termination of the franchise agreement, the franchisee must also disassociate from Buff City Soap in all communication methods, including email addresses, domain names, and social media accounts.