Who has sole discretion to take action regarding infringement of the Marks for City Publications?

According to the 2025 City Publications Franchise Disclosure Document, City Publications retains all rights and discretion regarding its Marks and System. This includes the right to take action against infringements. As a franchisee, you are granted a license to operate under the City Publications System and Marks, but City Publications maintains control over these assets.

This means that City Publications, not the franchisee, will decide how to respond to any unauthorized use of its trademarks, service marks, logos, or other commercial symbols. While franchisees benefit from using the established City Publications brand, they do not have the authority to independently pursue legal action against infringers.

This is a common arrangement in franchising, as it ensures consistent brand protection and quality control across all franchise locations. It also centralizes the legal and financial responsibility for protecting the brand with the franchisor, City Publications. Franchisees should report any suspected infringement to City Publications so that the company can take appropriate action.