After the Petro Stopping Center agreement expires, what are the restrictions on identifying a business as a former Petro Stopping Center?
Petro_Stopping_Center Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
19.2 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 any other Petro Center you own and operate) identify yourself or any business as a current or former Petro Center, or as one of our licensees or franchisees, use any Mark, any colorable imitation of a Mark or other indicia of a Petro Center 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 such action as may be required to cancel all fictitious or assumed name or equivalent registrations relating to your use of any Mark;
(c) you agree to deliver to us within 30 days after, as applicable, the effective date of expiration of this Agreement or the Notification Date all signs, marketing materials, forms and other materials containing any Mark or otherwise identifying or relating to a Petro Center and allow us, without liability to you or third parties, to remove all such items from the Petro Center;
(d) if we do not have or do not exercise an option to purchase the Petro Center, you agree that, after, as applicable, the effective date of expiration of this Agreement or the Notification Date, you will promptly and at your own expense make such alterations we specify to distinguish the Petro Center clearly from its former appearance and from other Petro Centers so as to prevent confusion by the public;
Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL TERMS. (FDD pages 208–228)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Petro Stopping Center Franchise Disclosure Document, after the franchise agreement terminates or expires, a franchisee faces specific restrictions regarding identifying their business as a former Petro Stopping Center. The franchisee cannot directly or indirectly identify themselves or their business as a current or former Petro Stopping Center, or as one of Petro Stopping Center's licensees or franchisees. This restriction applies at any time and in any manner, except if the franchisee owns and operates another Petro Center.
Furthermore, the franchisee is prohibited from using any Mark, any colorable imitation of a Mark, or other indicia of a Petro Center for any purpose. They also cannot utilize any trade name, trade or service mark, or other commercial symbol that indicates or suggests a connection or association with Petro Stopping Center.
To ensure compliance, the franchisee must take action to cancel all fictitious or assumed name registrations related to the use of any Mark. Within 30 days after the agreement's expiration or termination, the franchisee must deliver all signs, marketing materials, forms, and other materials containing any Mark or identifying or relating to a Petro Center to Petro Stopping Center. The franchisee must also allow Petro Stopping Center to remove these items from the Petro Center without liability. If Petro Stopping Center does not exercise its option to purchase the Petro Center, the franchisee must make alterations to distinguish the location from its former appearance and from other Petro Stopping Centers to prevent public confusion.