Is a Dq Treat licensee allowed to display advertising materials approved by the company after the agreement is terminated?
Dq_Treat Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
14.2 Stop Using Trademarks.
- (A) Licensee must immediately stop using and displaying the Trademarks and any point-of-sale materials and other sales promotion and advertising materials furnished, made available or approved by Company, and must stop using Company's Confidential Information (including the Operations Manual). Licensee must immediately return to Company all copies of the Operations Manual and any other Confidential Information in Licensee's possession or control, or previously disseminated to Licensee's employees.
- (B) Subject to section 14.5, Licensee must, within 20 days, at Licensee's expense, remove or obliterate all Restaurant signage, displays, photos and other materials in Licensee's possession at the Authorized Location or elsewhere that bear any of the Trademarks or names or material confusingly similar to the Trademarks. Licensee must also, within 20 days, alter the appearance of the Restaurant, including removal or substantial modification of any trade dress, so as to differentiate the Restaurant unmistakably from duly licensed restaurants and stores identified by the Trademarks.
- (C) If Licensee does not comply with section 14.2(B) within 20 days, Company may enter the Authorized Location and remove all Restaurant signage, displays, photos or any other materials in Licensee's possession at the Authorized Location or elsewhere that bear any of the Trademarks or names or material confusingly similar to the Trademarks, and Licensee must reimburse Company for Company's costs incurred in connection with this removal.
Source: Item 17 — The following paragraph is added to the end of Item 17 of the Disclosure Document: (FDD pages 70–378)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Dq Treat Franchise Disclosure Document, a licensee is not allowed to display advertising materials approved by the company after the agreement is terminated. Upon termination of the Dq Treat Operating Agreement, the licensee must immediately stop using and displaying the Trademarks and any point-of-sale materials and other sales promotion and advertising materials furnished, made available, or approved by Dq Treat.
This requirement ensures that the Dq Treat brand maintains its integrity and uniformity across all locations. After termination, the licensee also must stop using Dq Treat's Confidential Information, including the Operations Manual, and return all copies to the company.
Furthermore, within 20 days of termination, the licensee is responsible for removing or altering all Restaurant signage, displays, photos, and other materials bearing any of the Trademarks to differentiate the location from duly licensed Dq Treat restaurants. Failure to comply with these requirements allows Dq Treat to enter the location and remove the materials at the licensee's expense.