Does Buns On Fire own the log of hits by visitors to the franchisee's website?
Buns_On_Fire Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We have the right to designate, approve, control or limit all aspects of your Franchise Business that you conduct over the Internet ("e-commerce") including, without limitation, the URLs, domain names, website addresses, metatags, links, key words, e-mail addresses, bulletin boards, social media, chat rooms and any other means of electronic identification or origin ("e-names") used in connection with your Buns on Fire Restaurant business. We have final control and approval over all content and information on the Corporate Website as well as franchise subpages. We will own all intellectual property and other rights on the Corporate Website and all information they contain (including but not limited to, the domain name or URL for Your Website, the log of "hits" by visitors, and any personal or business data that visitors supply, but excluding your proprietary information).
All e-commerce activity will be conducted through the Corporate Website or a mobile application that we may develop at our discretion. You shall not be permitted to offer or sell any Products over the internet.
You agree to comply with any additional policies and standards we issue periodically with respect to the Internet and e-commerce. Should we consent in writing to you advertising or usage of the Internet for your Franchise Business, you must supply us with the current usernames, passwords, credentials and other account information that you have used in connection with any accounts relating to any approved Internet usage of the Marks and we must have co-administrative rights to all web pages.
Social Media Policy
To ensure consistency and quality of the company's message, we maintain and control all Social Media accounts associated with the Franchised Businesses. If we were to allow Social Media Accounts, you must comply with our Social Media Policy.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 25–33)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buns On Fire's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Buns On Fire retains ownership of the log of hits by visitors to the franchisee's website. Buns On Fire maintains final control and approval over all content and information on the Corporate Website as well as franchise subpages.
This means that as a franchisee, you will not own the data related to website traffic, which includes information about who is visiting the site and how they are interacting with it. Buns On Fire will own all intellectual property and other rights on the Corporate Website and all information they contain (including but not limited to, the domain name or URL for Your Website, the log of "hits" by visitors, and any personal or business data that visitors supply, but excluding your proprietary information).
This is a significant point for prospective franchisees because it limits their control over valuable marketing data. While Buns On Fire may use this data to improve the overall marketing strategy, individual franchisees may not have direct access to it for their own local marketing efforts. Franchisees are required to conduct all e-commerce activity through the Corporate Website, further centralizing control of online data with the franchisor.
Buns On Fire also maintains and controls all Social Media accounts associated with the Franchised Businesses. If Buns On Fire were to allow Social Media Accounts, franchisees must comply with Buns On Fire's Social Media Policy.