Does Carls Jr. own the copyright in all of its advertising and marketing materials?
Carls_Jr Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We own the copyright in all of our advertising and marketing materials including, but not limited to, images, copy, radio, and television commercials, and social media posts, the OPM and certain forms, architectural, engineering and construction plans, advertising materials, product specifications, computer programs, newsletters, training materials, and operations and accounting materials. While we do not commonly register our materials protected by copyright with the United States Registrar of Copyrights, we may seek registration for these materials at any time.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 58–59)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, Carls Jr. asserts ownership of the copyright for all of its advertising and marketing materials. This encompasses a wide array of items, including images, copy, radio and television commercials, and social media posts. Additionally, Carls Jr. claims copyright ownership over the OPM (Operations Procedures Manual), certain forms, architectural, engineering, and construction plans, product specifications, computer programs, newsletters, training materials, and operations and accounting materials.
While Carls Jr. states that it does not routinely register its copyrighted materials with the United States Registrar of Copyrights, the company retains the right to seek registration for these materials at any time. This means that even if a particular marketing piece isn't officially registered, Carls Jr. still considers it protected under copyright law.
For a prospective franchisee, this means that you must use only the advertising and marketing materials provided or approved by Carls Jr. Unauthorized use or modification of these materials could lead to legal issues, as Carls Jr. actively protects its intellectual property. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as franchisors need to maintain brand consistency and control the quality of their marketing efforts.