Are any of the TA Marks used by Petro Stopping Center registered in any state?
Petro_Stopping_Center Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
TA claims common law rights from its exclusive use, protection and enforcement of the TA Marks listed above from the date of their first use. None of these TA Marks are registered in any state. Renewal applications have been timely filed for all of the TA Marks prior to expiration or cancellation of any registrations.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 56–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Petro Stopping Center Franchise Disclosure Document, the TA Marks are not registered in any state. However, many TA Marks are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The FDD specifies that TA Operating claims common law rights to the TA Marks from the date of their first use. Because the TA Marks are not registered in any state, Petro Stopping Center franchisees do not have as many legal benefits and rights as a federally registered service mark or trademark. If the right to use any of these unregistered TA Marks is challenged, franchisees may have to change to an alternative service mark or trademark, which may increase their expenses.
Petro Stopping Center franchisees must use the appropriate federal registration mark or the symbol or the designation "TM" or "SM" where applicable when advertising or promoting the marks. All usage of the marks by a franchisee and any goodwill established by use of the marks will be for the exclusive benefit of the owner of the mark, and franchisees will not receive any interest in the marks. Franchisees may not contest the validity or ownership of the marks or trade secrets or business techniques that are part of the franchise program.