What rights does a Carl's Jr. franchisee have to use the Proprietary Marks?
Carls Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
For Carl's Jr. Restaurant franchisees, we grant you the right to operate a restaurant under the name "Carl's Jr." and to use our other current or future trademarks that we designate in the operation of your Franchised Restaurant. By trademarks, we mean trade names, trademarks, trade dress, service marks, logos, insignias, slogans, emblems, symbols, designs and any combination of these or any other indicia of source used to identify and distinguish the Carl's Jr. brand (our "Proprietary Marks"). We own all right, title and interest in and to the Proprietary Marks and you will only have such rights to use the Proprietary Marks as granted to you in the Franchise Agreement.
You must follow our rules when you use the Proprietary Marks. You cannot use the Proprietary Marks as part of a corporate, limited liability company, partnership or other business entity name or with modifying words, designs or symbols. You may not use the Proprietary Marks in connection with the sale of any unauthorized products or services or in any manner not authorized in writing by us. You may not seek registration of a Proprietary Mark or any mark that contains, includes or is similar to a Proprietary Mark.
You may not use our Proprietary Marks in any Internet domain name or e-mail address, in the operation of any Internet web site or on a social media platform including any social networking site, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Snapchat, Vine, blogs, podcasts and wikis or other future social media platforms and/or technological avenues (collectively, "Social Media"; not an exclusive list and term applies to any social networking website, mobile application, blog or microblog, public and private message boards, comment sections, etc.) without our prior written consent. We may grant or withhold our consent in our sole discretion and may condition our consent on such requirements as we deem appropriate, including, among other things, that you obtain our written approval of: (A) any and all Internet domain names and home page addresses related to the Franchised Restaurant; (B) the proposed form and content of any web site related to the Franchised Restaurant; (C) your use of any hyperlinks or other links; (D) your use of any materials (including text, video clips, photographs, images and sound bites) in which any third party has an ownership interest; and (E) any proposed modification of your web site. We may designate the form and content of your web site and/or require that any such web site be hosted by us or a third party whom we designate, using one or more web sites that we own and/or control. We may charge you a fee for developing, reviewing and approving your web site and/or for hosting the web site. We have established a Social Media policy for all franchisees, and you must comply with the policy, as modified from time to time, and any additional policies that we issue. Any copyright in your sites or pages on any Social Media are owned by us, and you must sign any documents that we reasonably deem necessary to affirm our ownership of the copyright.
With respect to Carl's Jr. Restaurant franchisees, if we should elect to use a principal name other than "Carl's Jr." to identify the Carl's Jr. System, we may select another name. The Carl's Jr. System and the Franchise Agreement will be deemed amended to substitute that name, and you will be required to incur the necessary costs to adopt the new name. The Carl's Jr. System and the Franchise Agreement will be deemed amended to substitute that name, and you will be required to incur the necessary costs to adopt the new name.
The Franchise Agreement does not contain any provisions under which we are required to defend or indemnify you against any claims of infringement or unfair competition arising out of your use of the Proprietary Marks. The Franchise Agreement does require that you notify us immediately if any litigation involving our Proprietary Marks is instituted or threatened against you. You also must fully cooperate in defending or settling the litigation. You may not directly or indirectly contest the validity or our ownership of the Proprietary Marks.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 56–58)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Carls FDD, franchisees are granted the right to operate a restaurant under the "Carl's Jr." name and use other trademarks designated by Carls for the franchised restaurant. These trademarks, referred to as "Proprietary Marks," encompass trade names, trademarks, trade dress, service marks, logos, insignias, slogans, emblems, symbols, designs, and any combination thereof used to identify the Carls Jr. brand. Carls retains ownership of all rights, titles, and interests in these Proprietary Marks, and franchisees' usage rights are strictly limited to those granted within the Franchise Agreement.
Carls' rules dictate how franchisees can use the Proprietary Marks. Franchisees cannot incorporate the Proprietary Marks into their business entity name or use them with modifications. They are prohibited from using the marks to sell unauthorized products or services or in any way not explicitly authorized by Carls in writing. Additionally, franchisees cannot seek to register a Proprietary Mark or any mark similar to it. Franchisees must promptly report any infringement of the Proprietary Marks to Carls in writing and cannot take any legal action regarding infringement without Carls' written approval. Carls has the right, but not the obligation, to take action against infringement and can include the franchisee in any related legal proceedings.
Furthermore, franchisees cannot use Carls' Proprietary Marks in any Internet domain name or email address, on any website, or on social media platforms without prior written consent from Carls. Carls has the sole discretion to grant or withhold consent and may impose conditions, including requiring written approval of domain names, website content, hyperlinks, third-party materials, and website modifications. Carls may also designate the form and content of the franchisee's website, require hosting through Carls or a designated third party, and charge fees for website development, review, approval, or hosting. Franchisees must adhere to Carls' Social Media policy, as modified, and any additional policies issued by Carls. Carls retains ownership of any copyright in the franchisee's sites or pages on social media, and franchisees must sign documents to affirm this ownership.
If Carls decides to use a principal name other than "Carl's Jr." to identify the Carls Jr. system, the Franchise Agreement will be amended to reflect the new name, and franchisees will be responsible for the costs associated with adopting the new name. The Franchise Agreement does not require Carls to defend or indemnify franchisees against infringement or unfair competition claims arising from their use of the Proprietary Marks. Franchisees must immediately notify Carls if any litigation involving the Proprietary Marks is instituted or threatened against them and must fully cooperate in defending or settling the litigation. Franchisees are prohibited from directly or indirectly contesting the validity or Carls' ownership of the Proprietary Marks.