The FTC needs to focus on helping protect second generation franchisees or existing franchisees when renewing 10 and 20 year old contracts. The FTC should act on unfair and deceptive acts or practices perpetrated upon current franchisees. The act should also include removing the contractual barriers that prevent franchisees from exercising their basic legal and constitutional rights. The barriers can be found in nearly every franchise agreement written by the franchisor. These provisions clearly violate the spirit of federal and state due process constitutional law.
Freedom of association is a constitutional right.
The FTC should take action against franchisors who intimidate or retaliate against their franchisees, directly or indirectly, for getting together for any legitimate business purpose . The FTC also ought to mandate that franchisors provide a list of all associations within their systems to all potential and existing franchisees. The FTC needs to begin dealing with issues important to current franchisees. These would include restraining trade by restricting the franchisees' ability to use local suppliers.