What must a Ledgers franchisee do regarding fictitious name filings that include Ledgers' marks after termination?

According to Ledgers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, upon termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement, a franchisee must cancel all fictitious name filings that include any of Ledgers' marks. This requirement is part of the franchisee's post-termination obligations.

This means that if a franchisee has registered a "doing business as" name, an "assumed name," a "trading as" name, or a "fictitious name" that incorporates Ledgers' trademarks, they are obligated to formally cancel these registrations with the relevant state or local regulatory bodies. This ensures that the franchisee no longer uses Ledgers' brand identity after the franchise agreement ends.

This provision protects Ledgers' brand and prevents former franchisees from potentially misleading the public into thinking they are still affiliated with the Ledgers franchise system. Failing to cancel these filings could lead to legal action from Ledgers to protect its trademarks. It is a standard practice in franchising to ensure that terminated franchisees discontinue all use of the franchisor's intellectual property.