3 Key Takeaways | Is Franchising Doomed? The 2024 Version
One Month to More Effective Compliance on Business Ventures - Day 19 - Franchisor Compliance
Is Franchising Doomed?
Strategies for Negotiating with a Franchisee and Franchisor
Day 20 of One Month to More Effective Compliance for Business Ventures-Franchisor Liability
In trademark law, the general rule is that, where two parties seek to use the same trademark in the same geographic area, the earlier (“senior”) user has rights superior to those of a subsequent (“junior”) user....more
An Illinois federal district court granted partial summary judgment in a trademark dispute against Ledo Pizza System, Inc. (“System”) and Ledo Pizza Carryouts, Ltd. (“Carryouts”), a franchisor of pizza restaurants...more
A federal court in New Jersey recently granted a franchisor’s motion for a preliminary injunction, enjoining the former franchisee from using the franchisor’s marks and violating the franchise agreement’s noncompete clause,...more
Australia welcomes new business and foreign investment by providing a strong economy, a stable political environment and a skilled and talented workforce. Our comprehensive guide to Doing Business in Australia has been...more
Welcome to the second edition of The Leisure Law Insider! It will be released quarterly, covering the latest news and developments in leisure and hospitality law, regulation, and policy. Expect content on hotels, franchising,...more
You are an entrepreneur. You created, founded and currently operate a successful and vibrant business. Perhaps customers, family members, or friends are loyal fans of your brand and are approaching you with a request to...more
A gym franchisor recently secured a preliminary injunction against its former franchisee prohibiting the franchisee from operating an independent gym on the same location and using the franchisor’s trade secrets. Chris...more
A federal bankruptcy court in Delaware has dismissed time-barred claims that a Chapter 7 Trustee alleged on behalf of a bankrupt franchisor, AVF Franchising, LLC, against several of its franchisees. In re Start Man Furniture,...more
A federal court in Oklahoma granted franchisor Pizza Inn, Inc.’s motion for preliminary injunction preventing two former Pizza Inn franchisees – Odetallah and Allen’s Dynamic Food – from operating competing pizza restaurants...more
Historically, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has shied away from regulating the substance of franchisor-franchisee relationships. A recent FTC press release, however, suggests this may soon change. If so, it is by no...more
On December 6, 2022, at the Asociacion Interamericana de law Propiedad Intelectual (Inter-American Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI)) 23rd Work Sessions and Administrative Council meeting in Medellin, Colombia,...more
On November 3-4, 2022, at the American Bar Association’s 45th Annual Forum on Franchising, Marc A. Lieberstein, Partner at Kilpatrick Townsend, and Lee Plave, Partner at Plave Koch PLC, presented Coming To America: So You...more
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued an opinion concerning a dispute over a franchisor’s effort to mandate changes to a franchisee’s operations. The Court granted the franchisor a mixed result. The decision...more
Federal trademark registration is the Holy Grail for companies, especially franchises, looking to expand their footprint and access a national audience. But even though trademark registration confers on owners certain...more
Since the adoption of state legal medical marijuana in Oklahoma in 2018, commercial licenses in the industry have proliferated. Many prospective licensees lack the relevant cannabis experience to fully develop their business...more
On April 14, Kilpatrick Townsend’s Brand Licensing and Franchise Partner Marc Lieberstein joined Jason Adler, General Counsel at Cellairis, a global franchisor in the wireless accessory and repair retail space, Janaki J....more
Illinois Federal Court Excludes Plaintiffs’ Expert Testimony on Certification Motion in Anti-Poaching Class Action - A federal court in Illinois granted Jimmy John’s motion to exclude expert testimony of a putative class...more
Welcome to The Franchise Memorandum by Lathrop GPM. Below are summaries of recent legal developments of interest to franchisors. Fifth Circuit Reverses Trial Court’s Excusal of Area Representative’s Tardy Renewal Notice -...more
A federal court in Tennessee held a Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken former franchisee in contempt for failure to deidentify its restaurant after entry of a temporary restraining order and consent to a permanent injunction. ...more
A Florida federal court granted a preliminary injunction against a terminated franchisee. The court enjoined the ex-franchisee from using the franchisor’s trademarks and trade dress. The court enforced the franchisor’s...more
Welcome to The Franchise Memorandum by Lathrop GPM, formerly known as The GPMemorandum. Since December 1997, The GPMemorandum has been presenting summaries of recent legal developments of interest to franchisors and companies...more
Kilpatrick Townsend senior counsel Chris Bussert recently presented in a workshop with Jeremy Liebman, franchise counsel at Krispy Kreme Donut Corporation, and Jason Adler, general counsel at Cellairis Franchise, Inc., at the...more
On May 20, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a bankrupt debtor’s “rejection” of a trademark licensing agreement does not terminate the licensee’s rights. This was under a part of the Bankruptcy Code that provides for...more
This infographic provides an overview of U.S. franchising and insight into the valuable role of trademarks and other IP assets to franchisors. ...more
When business owners contemplate expansion and growth of their business enterprise and brand, they must first make a fundamental decision on strategy and method of expansion. Should they (a) expand on their own, utilizing...more