Franchisors: How to Approach the Enforcement of Your Restrictive Covenants When Negotiating a Franchisee Renewal
When a franchise agreement expires, franchisors and franchisees, many times, enter a decision making period to determine, discuss and negotiate whether or not the the franchise agreement will be renewed. Although not preferred, this post-termination negotiating period is sometimes necessitated by on-going negotiations and delayed decisions. During this critical negotiating period - one where the franchisee is, most likely, operating the franchised business without a franchise agreement - franchisors, many times, unnecessarily jeopardize the protection of their trademarks and trade dress by failing to require the Franchisee sign what should be a mandatory acknowledgment.
- The Scenario - Franchise agreement expires and franchisor and franchisee negotiate the potential renewal. During the "post-termination negotiations" the franchisee continues to operate the franchised business and continues to utilize the franchisor's trademarks and trade dress. Although the Franchisor does not expressly acknowledge the franchisees continued operation, the franchisor does not continue with the enforcement of the franchise agreement's post-termination restrictive covenants.
- The Problem that Arises - By permitting the franchisee to continue operations - without the benefit of an on-going franchise agreement - the franchisor is legally acquiescing to the franchisees technical infringement of the franchise systems trademarks and trade dress. In doing so, the franchisor weakens its marks and makes later enforcement of the franchisee's post termination restrictive covenants more difficult. While this "problem" is, typically, not fatal, it is nevertheless costly. Especially where negotiations break down and the franchisee continues to violate the restrictive covenants.
- The Solution - During this gap negotiating period, insist that the franchisee sign an agreement whereby the franchisee acknowledges that the franchisor is withholding enforcement of the post-termination restrictive covenants for a limited period of time, i.e., two weeks
The foregoing "problem" is not that great but it is an issue that "muddies the water" in franchisor and franchisee litigation and results in unnecessary legal fees and time. That is, rather than advancing the franchisors right to restrict the former franchisees future business operations, the franchisor is exposed to the frivolous defense that, somehow, the franchisor acquiesced and waived its right to enforce the post-termination covenants.
