What must a Dollar Rent A Car franchisee do to assist in protecting Dollar Rent A Car's interests in the marks?
Dollar_Rent_A_Car Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
siness, or to a Car Sales Business, Vehicle Leasing Business, or Car Self-Service/Sharing Business of Ours, Our Affiliates or a franchisee of Ours or Our Affiliates operated under any mark used by Us or Our Affiliates other than the Marks.
- 12.14. Trade Name and Service Marks. You shall operate Your Franchised Business only using the Trade Names or under other Marks that We may authorize and specify from time to time. You shall not use the Marks as part of any legal entity name. Prior to applying or filing for any fictitious or "doing-business-as" name, You shall notify Franchisor and comply with any instructions of Franchisor relating thereto, including with respect to the addition of words before or after the Marks that reflect Your name, geographic location or other information. The Marks shall not be used in association with any business, product or service not specifically authorized by this Franchise Agreement.
- 12.15. Domain Names.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 102–301)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Dollar Rent A Car Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees have several obligations regarding the brand's trade names and service marks. A Dollar Rent A Car franchisee must operate their franchised business using only the trade names or marks that Dollar Rent A Car authorizes and specifies. The franchisee is prohibited from using the marks as part of any legal entity name. Before applying for any fictitious or "doing-business-as" name, a franchisee must notify Dollar Rent A Car and comply with any instructions related to it, including the addition of words before or after the marks that reflect the franchisee's name, geographic location, or other information. The franchisee cannot use the marks in association with any business, product, or service not specifically authorized by the Franchise Agreement.
Furthermore, a Dollar Rent A Car franchisee is prohibited from registering or assisting others in registering the marks, variations of the marks, or any name or mark in which Dollar Rent A Car has an interest, with any domain name registrar. This restriction applies to domain names on international, national, regional, or local levels. These stipulations ensure that franchisees do not create confusion in the marketplace or dilute the Dollar Rent A Car brand by implying an affiliation with unauthorized services or products.
These requirements are typical in franchising, as franchisors like Dollar Rent A Car need to protect their brand identity and ensure consistent representation across all franchise locations. By adhering to these guidelines, Dollar Rent A Car franchisees contribute to maintaining the integrity and value of the Dollar Rent A Car brand, which benefits the entire franchise system. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in a breach of the franchise agreement and potential legal consequences.