After the Hydrodog franchise agreement expires, what must a franchisee do with materials containing Hydrodog trademarks?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
pay us within fifteen (15) days after the effective date of termination or expiration of this Agreement, or on such later date that we determine amounts are due to us, all amounts due for Royalties, Marketing Fund Fees, contributions, amounts owed for purchases from us, interest due on any of the foregoing, and any and all other amounts owed to us which are then unpaid.
17.2 Marks. Upon the termination or expiration of this Agreement:
- (a) you may not directly or indirectly at any time or in any manner (except with respect to other HydroDog Businesses you own and operate) identify yourself or any business as a current or former HydroDog Business, or as one of our licensees or franchisees, use any Mark, any colorable imitation of a Mark or other indicia of a HydroDog Business in any manner or for any purpose or utilize for any purpose any trade name, trade or service mark or other commercial symbol that indicates or suggests a connection or association with us;
- (b) you agree to take immediate action as may be required to cancel all fictitious or assumed name or equivalent registrations relating to your use of any Mark;
- (c) if we do not have or do not exercise an option to purchase your HydroDog Business pursuant to this Agreement, you agree to deliver to us within thirty (30) days after, as applicable, the effective date of expiration of this Agreement or the Notification Date all signs, sign-faces, sign-cabinets, marketing materials, forms and other materials containing any Mark or otherwise identifying or relating to a HydroDog Business and allow us, without liability to you or third parties, to remove all such items from your HydroDog Business;
- (d) if we do not have or do not exercise an option to purchase your HydroDog Business pursuant to this Agreement, you agree that after the effective date of expiration of this Agreement or the Notification Date (whichever is applicable), you will promptly and at your own expense make such alterations we specify to distinguish your HydroDog Business clearly from its former appearance and from other the HydroDog Businesses so as to prevent confusion by the public;
- (e) if we do not have or do not exercise an option to purchase your HydroDog Business pursuant to this Agreement you agree that after the effective date of expiration of this Agreement or the Notification Date (whichever is applicable), you will notify the telephone company and all telephone directory publishers of the termination or expiration of your right to use any telephone, telecopy or other numbers and any regular, classified or other telephone directory listings associated with any Mark, authorize the transfer of such numbers and directory listings to us or at our direction and/or instruct the telephone company to forward all calls made to your telephone numbers to numbers we specify;
- (f) you agree to furnish us, within 30 days after the effective date of expiration of this Agreement or the Notification Date (whichever is applicable), with evidence satisfactory to us of your compliance with the foregoing obligations;
- (g) you, upon notice from us, automatically transfer to us or our designee ownership and right of possession of the HydroDog Vehicle;
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 43–166)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Hydrodog's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, a franchisee must discontinue using any Hydrodog trademarks or anything that suggests an association with Hydrodog, except for other Hydrodog businesses they might own and operate. The franchisee must also take action to cancel any registrations related to the use of Hydrodog trademarks.
Within 30 days after the agreement's expiration or the notification date, the franchisee is required to deliver all signs, marketing materials, forms, and other materials containing Hydrodog trademarks to Hydrodog. The franchisee must also allow Hydrodog to remove these items from the business.
Furthermore, the franchisee must alter their Hydrodog Business to clearly distinguish it from its former appearance and other Hydrodog Businesses to avoid public confusion. The franchisee must also notify the telephone company and directory publishers about the termination of their right to use any phone numbers or listings associated with Hydrodog, and authorize the transfer of such numbers and listings to Hydrodog. The franchisee must provide Hydrodog with evidence of compliance with these obligations within 30 days of the agreement's expiration or the notification date.
Finally, the franchisee must de-identify the Hydrodog Vehicle to Hydrodog's satisfaction, which may include removing its outer shell or building a different shaped shell around it. This ensures that the vehicle no longer represents the Hydrodog brand after the franchise agreement ends.