If the City Publications franchise agreement is terminated, can the franchisee continue to use the City Publications marks?
City_Publications Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
any assumed name or equivalent registration filed with state, city or county authorities which contains the name "CITY PUBLICATIONS" or any of the Marks, and Franchisee shall furnish Franchisor with evidence satisfactory to Franchisor of compliance with this obligation within thirty (30) days after termination or expiration of this Agreement.
Franchisee shall relinquish or transfer to Franchisor or its designee, at Franchisor's discretion, the Franchised Business telephone number and notify the telephone service provider and all listing agencies of the termination or expiration of Franchisee's rights to use any telephone number or any telephone directory listings associated with the "CITY PUBLICATIONS" name or any of the Marks and shall authorize transfer of the same to Franchisor or at Franchisor's direction.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 39–129)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 City Publications Franchise Disclosure Document, if the franchise agreement is terminated or expires, the franchisee must discontinue using the "CITY PUBLICATIONS" name and any related marks. The franchisee is required to cancel any assumed name registrations that include the City Publications name or marks and provide evidence of compliance to City Publications within 30 days of termination or expiration.
Additionally, the franchisee must transfer the franchised business telephone number to City Publications or its designee. They must also notify the telephone service provider and listing agencies about the termination of their rights to use any telephone number or directory listings associated with the City Publications name or marks, authorizing the transfer to City Publications.
These stipulations ensure that upon termination, the franchisee completely separates from the City Publications brand, preventing any potential confusion or misuse of the brand's identity. This is a standard practice in franchising to protect the integrity and uniformity of the brand across all franchise locations.