As a Dq Treat licensee, can I use marks other than the DQ® mark as the trade name of the Restaurant?
Dq_Treat Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- (A) Licensee must not use any of the Trademarks as part of its business entity name.
- (B) Licensee must only use the DQ® mark and no other mark or words as the trade name of the Restaurant, unless Company otherwise directs.
- (C) Licensee cannot use any additional words with the Trademarks without Company's prior written consent.
- (D) Licensee may use the Trademarks on various materials, such as business cards, stationery and checks, on the condition that Licensee:
- (1) Accurately depicts the Trademarks on the materials;
- (2) Includes a statement on the materials indicating that the business is independently owned and operated by Licensee; and
- (3) Makes available to Company, upon its request, a copy of any materials depicting the Trademarks.
- (E) Licensee must post a prominent sign in the Restaurant identifying Licensee as a franchisee of Company in a format reasonably acceptable to Company, which includes an acknowledgment that the Restaurant is independently owned and operated by Licensee and the Trademarks are owned by Company and used by Licensee under a license issued by Company.
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 Dq Treat's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, as a licensee, you generally must use only the DQ® mark as the trade name for your restaurant. Unless Dq Treat directs otherwise, you cannot use any other marks or words as the trade name. This means you are restricted to using the DQ® mark to identify your restaurant's trade name, ensuring uniformity and brand recognition across all franchise locations.
However, Dq Treat may provide written authorization to use other marks or words in addition to the DQ® mark. It is important to obtain this authorization in writing to ensure compliance with the franchise agreement. Additionally, you cannot use any of the Trademarks as part of your business entity name.
While you can use the Trademarks on materials like business cards and stationery, you must accurately depict the Trademarks and include a statement indicating that the business is independently owned and operated by you. You also need to provide Dq Treat with copies of these materials upon request. Furthermore, you must post a sign in the restaurant identifying yourself as a franchisee of Dq Treat, acknowledging that the restaurant is independently owned and operated and that the Trademarks are owned by Dq Treat and used under license.