What specific actions must a Gokhale Method franchisee take to de-identify the location of the Franchised Business after termination or expiration?
Gokhale_Method Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
You shall de-identify the Location of the Franchised Business so that there is no use or display of the Marks after the effective date of termination or expiration.
- 16.3. Cancellation of Registrations. You shall take such action as may be necessary to cancel any assumed name registration or equivalent registration obtained by you which contains the "Gokhale" word, or any other Marks, and you shall furnish us with evidence satisfactory to us of compliance with this obligation within five (5) days after termination or expiration of this Agreement.
- 16.4. Assignment of Lease. You shall, at our option, except in the event you continue to operate any other business you were operating from the same Location assign to us any interest which you have in any lease or sublease for the Location. In the event we do not elect to exercise our option to acquire the lease or sublease for the Location, you shall make such modifications or alterations to the Location (including, without limitation, the changing of, and the assigning to us of, the telephone number) immediately upon termination or expiration of this Agreement as may be necessary to distinguish the appearance of the Location from that of the Franchised Business under the System, and shall make
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 34)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Gokhale Method Franchise Disclosure Document, upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, the franchisee is required to de-identify the location of the franchised business. This means the franchisee must ensure that there is no use or display of Gokhale Method's marks after the termination or expiration date.
In addition to de-identifying the location, the franchisee must also cease operations immediately and not represent themselves as a current or former Gokhale Method franchised business. They must dispose of any Gokhale Method products, equipment, or other items, and not transfer them to anyone except Gokhale Method itself. The franchisee must also stop using any of Gokhale Method's intellectual property, including confidential information, methods, procedures, techniques, marks, and distinctive forms.
Furthermore, the franchisee is obligated to cancel any assumed name registrations or equivalent registrations that contain the word "Gokhale" or any other marks, providing Gokhale Method with evidence of compliance within five days after termination or expiration. Gokhale Method has the option to request an assignment of the lease for the location. If Gokhale Method does not exercise this option, the franchisee must make modifications or alterations to the location, including changing the telephone number, to distinguish it from a Gokhale Method franchised business.