Is the Coffee News periodical format consistent across all locations?
Coffee_News Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Coffee News Periodical format as described above is protected as Coffee News trade dress under the trademark laws through its actual and continuous use over the years. The Coffee News Periodicals nationwide and global wide all have the exact same format in the past at least 24 years.
Nothing in the franchise agreement shall be construed as a grant to you of any right, or interest in the "Coffee News" name or format, since all rights are reserved by 2703203, Manitoba, Inc. and us except for this license to the "Coffee News" name and format only as expressly provided in the franchise agreement. Furthermore, nothing in the agreement shall be construed as an assignment or license to you of any right or interest in any trade names or symbols, service marks, signs, slogans, or insignia not designated by the agreement as licensed to you, which may be developed by us for use with other publishers. In signing the agreement, you recognize the great value of the goodwill associated with our name and format and you acknowledge that the goodwill belongs to us and 2703203, Manitoba, Inc. You also will agree that you will not, at any time attack the title or any rights of us or 2703203, Manitoba, Inc. to the "Coffee News" name or format or attack the validity of the license to use the name or format or do anything which would jeopardize or diminish our rights or the value or the name.
You will have the right to use trademarks during any dispute between us and 2703203, Manitoba, Inc.
Source: Item 13 — Trademarks (FDD pages 22–24)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Coffee News's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the periodical format is consistent across all locations. The FDD specifies that the Coffee News periodical format is protected as Coffee News trade dress under trademark laws due to its consistent use over the years. The document emphasizes that Coffee News periodicals, both nationwide and globally, have maintained the exact same format for at least the past 24 years. This uniformity is a key element of the Coffee News brand.
The format details include specific dimensions: an 11" by 17" page size with a light brown paper coloring. The layout involves two-sided printing, with each page divided into three columns. The two border columns are designed to accommodate eight vertically arranged advertisements, while the center column is reserved for publishing information. Ad proportions are equal sized, approximately 2 7/8" by 2" inches in a rectangular rounded corner box with 1 open corner.
This standardized format ensures that customers recognize Coffee News regardless of location, which helps maintain brand consistency and customer familiarity. For a franchisee, this means adhering strictly to the prescribed format in their publications. The franchisee agreement clarifies that all rights to the Coffee News name and format are reserved, except for the license expressly provided in the agreement, reinforcing the importance of maintaining the established format and goodwill associated with the brand.