I call this “shadow ghost branding,” and there’s a lot of it around. A company is formerly affiliated with a well-known brand, typically as a franchisee, and then the relationship is severed. The little guy is no longer authorized to use the trademark — but de-branding efforts are usually minimal, often contemptuous. And brand owners hardly ever do anything about what could be called “authorized dilution.”
I’ve started a Flickr group called “Ghost Branding” to which I will shortly add more pictures from around the ‘hood. It’s open to anyone, and I invite your submissions.
UPDATE: I had to add the picture below in light of this item by Mike Atkins!
