Under what conditions can a Caring Transitions franchisee use the Caring Transitions marks on a website or domain name?
Caring_Transitions Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
damages arising out of or related to the use or performance of any Web site.
(f) In order to maintain the goodwill in the System and in the business of Franchisor and Franchisor's licensees, Franchisor has the right to impose conditions and standards requirements on Franchisee's use of electronic distribution channels, including any Caring Transitions Web site maintained by Franchisee, including the following:
(i) Franchisor is to own all rights to all domain names containing any of the Marks or relating to the franchised business, any Permitted Products and Services, or any business that offers or sells products or services that compete with any products or services offered by Caring Transitions franchises. Franchisee shall not register in its own name any domain name containing any of the Marks or relating to the franchised business, any Permitted Products and Services, or any business that offers or sells products or services that compete with any products or services offered by Caring Transitions franchises.
(ii) In order to maintain the common identity of the System and the high-quality standards associated with the System, Franchisee shall obtain Franchisor's prior written approval for any domain name and for the form and content of any Caring Transitions Web site before Franchisee uses it on the Internet. Unless Franchisor's prior written approval has been obtained, no element of the Marks or similar words may be used as part of the domain name or URL.
(iii) Any Caring Transitions Web site established or maintained by Franchisee must contain a hyperlink to Franchisor's Web site and all other hyperlinks to third-party Web sites must be previously approved in writing by Franchisor.
(iv) Any modifications to a Caring Transitions Web site established or maintained by Franchisee must first be approved in writing by Franchisor.
(v) Before establishing a Caring Transitions Web site, Franchisee shall obtain appropriate legal advice regarding the content and to ensure that the Web site complies with all relevant legislation and regulations.
(vi) Franchisee shall fully indemnify Franchisor against all and any claims arising out of any Web site established or maintained by Franchisee.
(vii) Franchisee shall comply fully with the terms and conditions of business over the Internet and shall ensure that such terms and conditions of business receive Franchisor's prior written approval. "Terms and conditions of business over the Internet" include, by way of example, Franchisor's policies regarding the Buyer's Premium and its receipt of same. A "Buyer's Premium" is a payment that may be required of customers for purchasing items through any Web site, including Franchisor's designated auction Web site www.CTBids.com. Franchisor reserves the right to set a maximum or minimum Buyer's Premium.
(f) Franchisee shall not participate in or register with any Internet group, Web site or similar medium which has as its aim (whether stated or not) or its effect the denigration of Franchisor or the System.
Source: Item 20 — OUTLETS AND FRANCHISEE INFORMATION (FDD pages 41–49)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Caring Transitions' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee's use of the Caring Transitions marks on a website or domain name is subject to several conditions and standards set by the franchisor. Caring Transitions retains ownership of all rights to domain names containing the Caring Transitions marks or relating to the franchised business. A franchisee cannot register any domain name containing the Caring Transitions marks in their own name.
Before a Caring Transitions franchisee can use a domain name or Caring Transitions website on the Internet, they must obtain prior written approval from Caring Transitions for both the domain name and the website's form and content. No element of the Caring Transitions marks or similar words can be used as part of the domain name or URL without this prior written approval. Any Caring Transitions website established or maintained by a franchisee must include a hyperlink to Caring Transitions' website, and all other hyperlinks to third-party websites must be approved in writing by Caring Transitions.
Furthermore, Caring Transitions franchisees cannot redirect Internet traffic from another domain name or URL to any website they establish that contains Caring Transitions marks or content without prior written consent from Caring Transitions. Any Caring Transitions website is considered "advertising" and is subject to Caring Transitions' approval. Franchisees must also get written approval from Caring Transitions before publishing or implementing a privacy policy. These stipulations ensure that Caring Transitions maintains control over its brand and online presence, and that franchisees adhere to the standards and guidelines set forth by the company.