Ohio Revised Code Search

...(A) With respect to any merger, acquisition, purchase, or assignment under division (D) of section 1333.85 of the Revised Code, both of the following apply: (1) The territories for the particular product or brand of alcoholic beverage shall not be assigned to another distributor until the successor manufacturer compensates the terminated or nonrenewed distributor for the diminished value of the distributor's ...

...During the effective period of a franchise, the distributor shall maintain adequate physical facilities and personnel so that the product or brands of the manufacturer are at all times properly represented in the sales area of the distributor, the reputation and trade name of the manufacturer are protected, and the general public receives adequate servicing of the products or brands of the manufacturer. The distribut...

...Any manufacturer or distributor who directly or through an officer, employee, or agent violates sections 1333.82 to 1333.86 of the Revised Code is liable to the party injured by such violation for all reasonable damages sustained by the party that are the proximate result of the unlawful act of the manufacturer or distributor, his officer, employee, or agent. An action to recover such damages and for other relief may...

...As used in sections 1333.91 to 1333.94 of the Revised Code: (A) "Pyramid promotional scheme" means any plan or operation by which individuals pay consideration for the chance or opportunity to receive compensation that is derived primarily from recruiting other individuals into the plan or operation rather than from the sale of products or services to ultimate users or from the consumption or use of products or serv...

...No person shall propose, plan, prepare, or operate a pyramid promotional scheme.

...Any contract made in violation of section 1333.92 of the Revised Code is void. Any individual who has paid consideration for the chance or opportunity to participate in a pyramid promotional scheme may recover, in a civil action, the amount of the consideration paid, together with reasonable attorney fees, from any participant who has received compensation under either of the following circumstances: (A) For intro...

...(A) Failure to comply with section 1333.92 of the Revised Code constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice in connection with a consumer transaction in violation of section 1345.02 of the Revised Code. (B) The attorney general may do the following: (1) Whenever it appears that a person is violating or about to violate section 1333.92 of the Revised Code, bring an action in the court of common pleas to enjoin...

...The remedies in sections 1333.91 to 1333.95 of the Revised Code are in addition to remedies otherwise available.

...(A) Whoever violates sections 1333.01 to 1333.04 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. (B) Whoever violates section 1333.12 or 1333.71 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. (C) Whoever violates section 1333.36 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. (D) A prosecuting attorney may file an action to restrain any person found in violatio...

...As used in sections 1334.01 to 1334.15 of the Revised Code: (A) "Seller" means a person who sells or leases a business opportunity plan. (B) "Purchaser" means a person to whom a business opportunity plan is sold or leased. (C) "Broker" means a person, other than a seller, who sells or leases, offers for sale or lease, or arranges for the sale or lease of a business opportunity plan for a commission, fee, or ...

...me, service mark, advertising, or other commercial symbol, if any, under which the prospective purchaser will be operating, or which identifies the goods or services to be offered, sold, or distributed by the purchaser. (d) All initial payments or a promissory note which must be made by the purchaser to any person in order to begin operation of the business opportunity plan, including, but not limited to, fees, depo...

...In connection with the sale or lease of a business opportunity plan, no seller or broker shall: (A) Make any oral, written, or visual representation to a prospective purchaser concerning potential sales, income, or gross or net profit, unless: (1) The seller possesses data to substantiate the representation and provides the data in writing to the prospective purchaser at least ten business days prior to the executi...

...(A) If, pursuant to division (H) of section 1334.03 of the Revised Code, a seller is required to obtain a surety bond or establish a trust account, the bond or trust account required shall be in favor of the state for the benefit of any purchaser who is damaged by a violation of, or by the seller's breach of an agreement subject to, sections 1334.01 to 1334.15 of the Revised Code. The surety bond shall be issued by a...

...(A) In addition to any other right or remedy available to a purchaser under sections 1334.01 to 1334.15 of the Revised Code, a purchaser has the right to cancel an agreement selling or leasing to the purchaser a business opportunity plan, in accordance with the following conditions: (1) If the seller complies with divisions (A)(7), (B), and (C) of section 1334.06 of the Revised Code, the purchaser may cancel ...

...(A) Every agreement selling or leasing a business opportunity plan shall be in writing and a copy of the executed agreement and all other documents the seller requires the purchaser to sign shall be given to the purchaser at the time they are signed. The agreement shall contain at least the following: (1) The terms and conditions of payment including the initial payment or the promissory note, additional payments, ...

...If by his own inquiries, or as a result of complaints, the attorney general has reasonable cause to believe that a seller or broker has engaged, is engaging, or is threatening to engage in an act or practice that violates sections 1334.01 to 1334.15 of the Revised Code, he may investigate. For this purpose the attorney general may administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, adduce evidence, and require the production of re...

...(A) If the attorney general, by his own inquiries or as a result of complaints has reasonable cause to believe that a person has engaged, is engaging, or threatening to engage in an act or practice that violates sections 1334.01 to 1334.15 of the Revised Code, he may bring any of the following actions: (1) An action to obtain a declaratory judgment that the act or practice violates sections 1334.01 to 1334.15 of the...

...(A) For a violation of sections 1334.01 to 1334.15 of the Revised Code, a purchaser has a cause of action and may seek either or both of the following: (1) In an individual action: (a) Rescind the agreement by giving written notice to the seller within three years of the date of the agreement and recover all sums paid to the seller, less the fair market value, at the time of delivery, of any goods supplied by...

...(A) The courts of common pleas, and municipal or county courts within their respective monetary jurisdiction, have jurisdiction over any seller or broker with respect to any act or practice covered by sections 1334.01 to 1334.15 of the Revised Code, or with respect to any claim arising from the sale or lease of a business opportunity plan subject to such sections. (B) A final judgment against a seller or broke...

...Notwithstanding section 1303.35 of the Revised Code, a purchaser who executes an agreement selling or leasing to him a business opportunity plan or a note in connection with such an agreement may assert as a defense to a claim by a holder in due course, as defined in section 1303.32 of the Revised Code, any defense that the purchaser may assert against the seller of the business opportunity plan.

...trade name, seal, advertising, or other commercial symbol designating a person who offers a bona fide service for the evaluation, testing, or certification of goods, commodities, or services; (D) An agreement between a licensor and a single licensee to license a trademark, trade name, service mark, advertising, or other commercial symbol where such license is the only one of its general nature and type to be g...

...Except for division (H) of section 1334.03 and section 1334.04 of the Revised Code, sections 1334.01 to 1334.15 of the Revised Code do not apply to: (A) Any transaction that complies in all material respects with the trade regulation rule of the federal trade commission, "disclosure requirements and prohibitions concerning franchising," 16 C.F.R. 436.1 et seq., as may be amended from time to time, that is in ...

...In any case arising under section 1334.08 or 1334.09 of the Revised Code, the burden of proving an exemption or exception from section 1334.12 or 1334.13 of the Revised Code is upon the person who claims the exemption or exception.

...(A) The general assembly declares that the offer and sale of business opportunity plans is a matter affected with a public interest. The general assembly further declares that it is the intent of this chapter to protect prospective purchasers of business opportunity plans by requiring that sellers provide the purchasers with the information necessary to make an intelligent decision about the business opportunit...

...Whoever violates sections 1334.02 to 1334.06 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.