If Carbones Pizzeria requires me to change trademarks, who is responsible for the costs?

According to the 2025 FDD, if Carbones Pizzeria decides to modify or discontinue the use of any name or mark and requires franchisees to adopt additional or substitute names or marks, the franchisee is responsible for all associated costs and expenses. This includes any costs related to changing signage, marketing materials, or other branded items.

This means that as a Carbones Pizzeria franchisee, you bear the financial risk if the franchisor decides to rebrand or update its trademarks. This could be due to various reasons, such as a trademark dispute, a desire to modernize the brand, or a change in the company's overall strategy. The FDD also states that Carbone's Pizza does not have a federal trademark registration, which could lead to challenges and increase the expenses of changing to an alternative trademark.

While Carbones Pizzeria will take reasonable steps to protect your rights to use their principal trademarks and protect you against claims of infringement, you are still responsible for the costs associated with changes or additions to the trademarks. This is a potentially significant expense that prospective franchisees should consider when evaluating the financial viability of a Carbones Pizzeria franchise. It is important to factor in potential rebranding costs when projecting expenses and to discuss this issue with existing franchisees to understand the likelihood and potential impact of such changes.