What is the Annex Brands franchisee's responsibility regarding the use of the website for promoting their Center?
Annex_Brands Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisor may, but is not required to, maintain a corporate website on the Internet to market and promote the System and the products and services marketed by Franchisee. If Franchisor maintains a website, Franchisor may, but is not required to, establish and maintain a private Intranet, newsgroups, bulletin boards, and libraries, for use by Franchisee. Franchisor may, but is not required to, maintain a designated area on its corporate website for the purpose of promoting the Center or otherwise permitting an electronic link from Franchisor's website to a website that Franchisee maintains, subject to Franchisor's prior written consent. Franchisor may, but is not required to, provide email addresses to Franchisee for the Center. Franchisee must use the email addresses Franchisor provides Franchisee for all aspects of the operation of the Center, including in customer communications, in print or digital marketing/advertising or promotions, on letterhead and business cards, etc. Franchisee may not establish or use another email addresses without Franchisor's prior written consent. The corporate website (if established), related websites, the private Intranet, the Center's email addresses, and any other Franchisee website or email addresses, will be governed by Franchisor's Internet Policies and Procedure Agreement (Attachment 8), or otherwise may be modified by us.
You must refrain from allowing access to our Intranet by any unauthorized party.
We must approve any website (or equivalent electronic advertising) that utilizes the Marks before publication and approve any modification prior to publishing updates.
If we establish our website, we will prepare and post a designated area on our website for the purpose of promoting your Center ("your website").
Your website will be accessible without charge to anyone with access to the Internet.
You may not maintain another website without our prior written consent. (The terms "Franchisor's prior written consent", and "our prior written consent", as used in the franchise agreement, and its attachments, and this Agreement, mean consent that is given by Franchisor based on then-current circumstances, but that may be
You agree to notify us of any website known to you that features or lists you in your capacity as a franchisee and to notify us of any new websites as they periodically list you.
You are responsible for the personnel and agents to whom you distribute passwords.
You hereby covenant that you will comply in all respects with the Internet Code of Conduct.
In your capacity as a franchisee, you agree that you are prohibited from creating, reproducing, distributing, transmitting, creating derivative works of, or publicly displaying or performing, any communication, data, file, image, graphics, video clip, audio clip or software in, through or on the Internet that might infringe upon or violate the property rights of others, including but not limited to any of the following types of property belonging to a person or entity other than us when such person or entity has not given his, her or its prior written consent or license: (1) any text, images, graphics, video clip, audio clip or software protected by copyright or patent law; (2) trade secrets or other confidential proprietary information; and (3) trademarks or service marks.
You agree to use the method and format of email communications for your Center as determined by us, including but not limited to using your Center's brand domain name in the email address.
You must use the email addresses we provide you for all aspects of the operation of your center, including but not limited to customer communications, print or digital marketing, advertising or promotions, on letterhead and business cards, etc.
You may not establish or use your own email addresses without our prior written consent.
Whenever you send an email to a person other than us, indicate in your email (in the signature portion or elsewhere) that your Center is an independently owned and operated business, and that your views do not necessarily reflect our policies.
Source: Item 22 — Contracts (FDD pages 109–110)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, Annex Brands franchisees have several responsibilities regarding website use and promotion of their center. Annex Brands may maintain a corporate website and a designated area for promoting the franchisee's center, or link to the franchisee's website, but is not required to do so. If Annex Brands provides email addresses, the franchisee must use them for all center operations, including customer communications and marketing, and cannot use other email addresses without prior written consent. All websites and email addresses are governed by Annex Brands' Internet Policies and Procedure Agreement.
Annex Brands must approve any franchisee website that utilizes the brand's marks before publication, as well as any modifications. If Annex Brands establishes a website for the franchisee's center, it will be accessible without charge. Franchisees may not maintain another website without Annex Brands' prior written consent, which can be withdrawn with 30 days' notice. Franchisees must also notify Annex Brands of any websites that list them as a franchisee.
Annex Brands will prepare and post a designated area on its website to promote the franchisee's center. Franchisees are responsible for the personnel and agents to whom they distribute passwords and must prevent unauthorized access to Annex Brands' Intranet. Franchisees must comply with Annex Brands' Internet Code of Conduct and refrain from using infringing materials on the internet. They must also use the email communication methods and formats determined by Annex Brands, including using the center's brand domain name in the email address. Franchisees must indicate in their emails that their center is independently owned and operated and that their views do not necessarily reflect Annex Brands' policies.