Does Crave Cookies Franchising have to mediate disputes related to the validity of its trademarks?

According to Crave Cookies's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Crave Cookies Franchising is not required to mediate disputes concerning the validity of its trademarks. The franchise agreement outlines specific exceptions to mandatory mediation. These exceptions include disputes related to the validity of the brand's marks, trademarks, service marks, or other intellectual property. Additionally, Crave Cookies Franchising does not have to mediate disputes over rights to obtain a writ of attachment or other prejudgment remedies, or disputes solely for royalty fees or marketing fund contribution fees owed by one party to the other under the agreement.

This means that if a dispute arises regarding the validity of Crave Cookies' trademarks, the franchisee cannot compel Crave Cookies Franchising to enter mediation. Crave Cookies Franchising retains the right to immediately pursue legal action to protect its intellectual property. This clause protects Crave Cookies' brand and trademarks, allowing them to act swiftly against any challenges to their validity without the delay of mediation.

For a prospective franchisee, this highlights the importance of understanding the strength and protection of the Crave Cookies trademarks. While franchisees benefit from using a recognized brand, they also acknowledge that disputes over the brand's validity will not be subject to mandatory mediation, potentially leading to quicker and more decisive legal action by Crave Cookies Franchising to protect its intellectual property.