Can the terms of the renewed City Publications Franchise Agreement differ from the original agreement?
City_Publications Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
This Amendment to the Franchise Agreement is agreed to this day of, 20, between CITY PUBLICATIONS FRANCHISE GROUP, INC. and to amend and revise said Franchise Agreement as follows: 1. In recognition of the requirements of The Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act §19-28.1-14, the Franchise Agreement for CITY PUBLICATIONS FRANCHISE GROUP, INC. shall be amended as follows: ◼ Sections 5B.10 and 20B.2 of the Franchise Agreement require Franchisee to sign a general release as a condition of renewal and transfer of the franchise; such release shall exclude claims arising under The Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act. ◼ Sections 24A and 24B of the Franchise Agreement shall be amended to state that restricting jurisdiction or venue to a forum outside the state of Rhode Island or requiring the application of the laws of another state is void with respect to a claim otherwise enforceable under The Rhode Island Franchise Investment Act. 2. Each provision of this Amendment shall be effective only to the extent that the jurisdictional requirements of the Rhode Island law applicable to the provisions are met independent of this Amendment. To the extent this addendum shall be deemed to be inconsistent with any terms or conditions of said Franchise Agreement or exhibits or attachments thereto, the terms of this addendum shall govern. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned hereby acknowledges having read this Amendment, and understands and consents to be bound by all of its terms. CITY PUBLICATIONS FRANCHISE GROUP, INC.:
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 39–129)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to City Publications' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the terms of the renewed franchise agreement may differ from the original agreement, particularly in states with franchise-specific laws. Several amendments to the standard franchise agreement are included to comply with state laws. These amendments address issues such as required releases, termination conditions, governing law, and dispute resolution venues.
For example, franchisees in California have specific protections under the California Franchise Investment Law and the California Franchise Relations Act, which may supersede certain provisions in the standard City Publications Franchise Agreement related to termination or nonrenewal. Similarly, in Maryland and Rhode Island, amendments ensure that franchisees do not waive rights under their respective state franchise laws during renewal or transfer. The FDD also notes that Washington state law (RCW 19.100.180) may supersede the franchise agreement regarding termination and renewal.
These state-specific amendments highlight that the initial franchise agreement is not static and can be modified to align with legal requirements. A prospective City Publications franchisee should carefully review the addendum specific to their state (if any) and understand how state laws impact the terms of their franchise agreement, especially concerning renewal, termination, and dispute resolution. Consulting with an attorney is advisable to fully understand these implications.