What are Aw franchisees required to do to identify their restaurant?
Aw Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must use the Marks to identify your Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant, but you must also identify yourself as the independent owner of your Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant. You may not use or register any Mark as part of any entity or with any prefix, suffix or other modifying words, terms, designs or symbols (except for those we license to you ) or in any modified form. You may not use any Mark in connection with the sale of any unauthorized product or service or in any other manner we have not expressly authorized in writing.
You must not obtain or register any domain names incorporating the Marks. You must not use the Marks in a website or in any other manner on the Internet without our prior written consent. You must not use any of the Marks on the Internet in any directory listing or advertising without our prior written consent. You must not make any reference to or any association with the Marks on any social media site, social network, blog, or other on-line venue or in any other manner on the Internet without our prior written consent. If any use of the Marks on the Internet is specifically permitted in the Operations Manual, you must conform your use completely to all of the applicable standards and procedures in the Operations Manual.
You must notify us immediately in writing of any apparent infringement of or challenge to your use of any Mark, or any claim by any person of any rights in any Mark or any similar mark and you may not communicate with any person other than us or our attorneys and your attorneys regarding the infringement, challenge or claim. We have sole discretion to take any action we deem appropriate and the right to exclusively control any litigation, PTO proceeding, ICANN Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy proceeding or other administrative proceeding arising out of any infringement, challenge or claim to otherwise relating to any Mark. You must sign all instruments and documents, provide assistance and take any action that, in the opinion of our attorneys, may be necessary or advisable to protect and maintain our interest in any litigation, PTO proceeding, ICANN Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy proceeding or other administrative proceeding or to otherwise protect and maintain our interest in the Marks.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 30–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aw's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must use the brand's trademarks to identify their Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant. However, they are also required to identify themselves as the independent owner of their Aw restaurant. This dual requirement ensures brand consistency while also clarifying the franchisee's independent ownership. Franchisees cannot use or register any mark as part of any entity or with any prefix, suffix or other modifying words, terms, designs or symbols, except for those Aw licenses to them, or in any modified form. They also cannot use any mark in connection with the sale of any unauthorized product or service or in any other manner Aw has not expressly authorized in writing.
Aw franchisees are prohibited from obtaining or registering any domain names incorporating the marks. They must not use the marks on a website or in any other manner on the Internet without Aw's prior written consent. Similarly, franchisees cannot use any of the marks on the Internet in any directory listing or advertising without prior written consent. Franchisees are also barred from making any reference to or any association with the marks on any social media site, social network, blog, or other on-line venue or in any other manner on the Internet without Aw's prior written consent. If any use of the marks on the Internet is specifically permitted in the Operations Manual, franchisees must conform their use completely to all of the applicable standards and procedures in the Operations Manual.
Furthermore, Aw franchisees must notify Aw immediately in writing of any apparent infringement of or challenge to their use of any mark, or any claim by any person of any rights in any mark or any similar mark. Franchisees may not communicate with any person other than Aw or its attorneys and their attorneys regarding the infringement, challenge, or claim. Aw has sole discretion to take any action it deems appropriate and the right to exclusively control any litigation, PTO proceeding, ICANN Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy proceeding or other administrative proceeding arising out of any infringement, challenge or claim to otherwise relating to any mark. Franchisees must sign all instruments and documents, provide assistance and take any action that, in the opinion of Aw's attorneys, may be necessary or advisable to protect and maintain Aw's interest in any litigation, PTO proceeding, ICANN Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy proceeding or other administrative proceeding or to otherwise protect and maintain Aw's interest in the marks. These stipulations are designed to protect Aw's brand identity and control over its trademarks, ensuring uniformity and preventing unauthorized use.