Can Gold Star authorize additional marks in the future for my franchise?
Gold_Star Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ts is not dependent upon the achievement of a certain sales volume, market penetration or other contingency.
Item 13
Trademarks
Gold Star licenses you to use Marks containing the words "Gold Star" and "Gold Star Chili," and any other current or future Marks that Gold Star authorizes in writing, to identify your Franchise business. The primary trademarks, names, symbols and logos currently licensed to you to identify your Franchise business are set forth in Exhibit A to the Franchise Agreement. The Marks may be used only in operating the Restaurant and only subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Franchise Agreement and any other rules of Gold Star set forth in the Manual or otherwise. The Franchise Agreement and these other rules impose various restrictions on your use of the Marks.
In the United States, Gold Star has registered the following primary trademarks, names, symbols and logos with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the principal register:
| Mark | Registration No.
Source: Item 13 — Trademarks (FDD pages 37–40)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Gold Star's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Gold Star licenses franchisees to use marks containing the words "Gold Star" and "Gold Star Chili," along with any other current or future marks that Gold Star authorizes in writing. These marks are used to identify the franchise business. The primary trademarks, names, symbols, and logos currently licensed are detailed in Exhibit A of the Franchise Agreement.
The FDD specifies that franchisees can only use the marks while operating their restaurant and must adhere to the terms and conditions outlined in the Franchise Agreement and any other rules set forth by Gold Star in their manual or otherwise. These rules impose various restrictions on the use of the marks.
Gold Star also has the right to modify or discontinue the use of any of the marks, or to use additional or substitute marks. If this happens, the franchisee is responsible for making the changes at their own expense within a reasonable time frame after receiving written instructions from Gold Star. This means that a franchisee must be prepared to invest further in rebranding or updating signage and marketing materials if Gold Star decides to change its branding strategy.