Where can complaints concerning the content of the Black Bear Diner website be directed in California?
Black_Bear_Diner Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisor retains all rights relating to the Website, Franchisee's website or web page, and any intranet/extranet system, including without limitation all rights to the data stored therein, and may alter or terminate the Website, Franchisee's website or web page, or Franchisor's intranet/extranet system.
Franchisor also has the right to access, at all times, all information and data contained on its Website, including without limitation Franchisee's separate website or web page that is part of Franchisor's Website, and any intranet/extranet system.
Franchisee's general conduct on the Website and any intranet/extranet system or other online communications and specifically Franchisee's use of the Marks or any advertising is subject to the provisions of this Agreement.
Franchisee acknowledges that certain information related to its participation in the Website or any intranet/extranet system may be considered Confidential Information, including without limitation access codes and identification codes.
You shall comply with the standards and procedures developed by us for the System, in the manner directed by us in the Manual or otherwise in writing, with regard to your authorization to use, and use of, blogs, common social networks (such as facebook®, YouTube®, LinkedIn®, Twitter®, myspace.com®), virtual worlds, file, audio and video sharing sites and other similar social networking media or tools ("Social Media") that in any way references the Marks or involves the System or the Franchised Restaurant.
We reserve the right to require our approval of any message you compose for a social media website or commentary for any other website before you post such message or commentary.
If requested by us, you agree to cease posting on any social media website in connection with your or any other Black Bear Diner, the Marks or the System.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 56–243)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
The 2025 Black Bear Diner Franchise Disclosure Document states that the franchisor retains all rights relating to the website. This includes the right to alter or terminate the website or any franchisee's web page that is part of the franchisor's website. The franchisor also has the right to access all information and data contained on its website at all times.
Furthermore, the FDD indicates that a franchisee's general conduct on the website, use of marks, and advertising are subject to the franchise agreement. Franchisees must comply with the standards and procedures developed by Black Bear Diner for the system regarding the use of social media that references the marks or involves the system or the franchised restaurant. Black Bear Diner reserves the right to require approval of any message a franchisee composes for a social media website or commentary for any other website before it is posted. Black Bear Diner can also require a franchisee to cease posting on any social media website in connection with their Black Bear Diner, the marks, or the system.
While the FDD excerpts detail Black Bear Diner's control over its website and franchisees' online activities, it does not provide specific contact information for directing complaints about website content. A prospective franchisee should ask the franchisor directly about the proper channels for addressing concerns or complaints related to the Black Bear Diner website content, as this information is not explicitly outlined in the provided documentation.