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Disclosure Protection: Franchises And Food Court Leases, James R. Cataland

Cleveland State Law Review

The shopping center industry continues to enjoy relative freedom from governmental regulation and operates within the framework of a long term, well established body of favorable commercial landlord/tenant law. Conversely, certain "'unfair and deceptive practices" in the sale of franchises have led to comprehensive consumer protection legislation at both the state and federal level. In 1978, the Federal Trade Commission promulgated a series of uniform disclosure requirements that a franchise or business opportunity seller must make when soliciting a prospective buyer. Often, the prospective buyer of a fast food franchise is an unsophisticated husband and wife, owner/operator, commonly referred to …