BP West Coast Products LLC v. Crossroad Petroleum, Inc., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 55456 (S.D. Cal. 4-19-12), ex parte mot. for stay pending appeal denied, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 56603 (S.D. Cal. 4-23-12)

Thrifty Oil Co., a commercial landlord of a franchisor-refiner, licensed its "Thrifty" trademark to the refiner, which then sub-licensed the "Thrifty" trademark to its franchisee-retailers. Although Thrifty Oil Co. also had a subsidiary that was previously a refiner, Thrifty Oil Co. and its subsidiary had not engaged in either the distribution or refining of petroleum products for more than ten years. Accordingly, the licensing of the "Thrifty" trademark to the refiner did not bring Thrifty Oil Co. within the scope of the PMPA because no evidence was presented that the "Thrifty" trademark was either owned or controlled by a refiner.