Must a Carls Jr. franchisee comply with the brand's Social Media policy?
Carls_Jr Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 56–58)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Carls Jr. Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must adhere to the brand's social media policy. This policy governs how franchisees can use Carls Jr.'s proprietary marks on various online platforms. These platforms include social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Snapchat, Vine, blogs, podcasts, wikis, and any future social media platforms.
Carls Jr. requires franchisees to obtain prior written consent before using their proprietary marks in any Internet domain name or email address, when operating any Internet website, or on any social media platform. Carls Jr. has the sole discretion to grant or withhold consent and may impose specific requirements. These requirements include written approval of Internet domain names, home page addresses, website content, hyperlinks, use of third-party materials, and any proposed website modifications.
Carls Jr. may also designate the form and content of a franchisee's website, or require that the website be hosted by Carls Jr. or a designated third party. Franchisees may be charged a fee for the development, review, approval, and hosting of their website. Carls Jr. retains ownership of any copyright in the franchisee's sites or pages on social media and requires franchisees to sign documents affirming this ownership. This ensures that Carls Jr. maintains control over its brand image and messaging across all digital channels.