If Chicken Guy owns the domain name, who is responsible for the content of the Chicken Guy franchisee's website?
Chicken_Guy Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Notwithstanding this Section 15.C., Chicken Guy in its sole discretion and upon notice to Franchisee, may elect to register and own any domain name(s) or other Electronic Identifiers intended to be used by Franchisee in connection with its Franchised Restaurant.
In such case, Chicken Guy will provide Franchisee all administrative access to the Electronic Identifier(s) and Franchisee shall be
solely responsible for content development and creation, and maintenance thereof, in accordance with this Section 15. Franchisee shall reimburse Chicken Guy for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Chicken Guy in connection with the registration or renewal of any Electronic Identifier immediately upon Franchisee's receipt of an invoice therefor.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 50)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chicken Guy's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, even if Chicken Guy elects to register and own the domain name for a franchisee's restaurant website, the franchisee is still responsible for the website's content. Chicken Guy may choose to register and own any domain names or other electronic identifiers intended for the franchisee's use. If Chicken Guy does so, it will provide the franchisee with administrative access to those identifiers.
The franchisee is then solely responsible for the development, creation, and maintenance of the website content, ensuring it aligns with the standards outlined in Section 15 of the franchise agreement. This means the franchisee has control over what is published on their restaurant's website, but they must adhere to Chicken Guy's guidelines and standards.
Furthermore, the franchisee is required to reimburse Chicken Guy for all out-of-pocket costs associated with the registration or renewal of any electronic identifier immediately after receiving an invoice. This arrangement places the responsibility for website content squarely on the franchisee while ensuring Chicken Guy retains ownership and control over the domain name itself. This is a common arrangement in franchising, allowing the franchisor to maintain brand consistency while giving franchisees some control over their local marketing efforts.