Does Chicken Guy require franchisees to follow specific rules when using the Proprietary Marks?
Chicken_Guy Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must follow our rules when you use our Proprietary Marks. You may not use the Proprietary Marks on any vehicles without our prior written approval. You may not modify the Proprietary Marks in any manner in connection with your display of, or creation or duplication of materials bearing, the Proprietary Marks. You may not use the Proprietary Marks or any variations of the Proprietary Marks or marks or names confusingly similar to the Proprietary Marks in any manner not authorized by Chicken Guy or in any corporate, limited liability company or partnership name and may not use any other trade names, service marks or trademarks in conjunction with the Franchised Restaurant. You must use the symbol ® with all registered marks and the symbol ™ with all pending registrations or other marks. 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 use the Proprietary Marks on any Internet domain name, e-mail address or in the operation of any Internet website 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 prior written approval of: (1) any and all Internet domain names and home page addresses related to the Franchised Restaurant; (2) the proposed form and content (including any visible and non-visible content such as meta-tags) of any website related to the Franchised Restaurant; (3) your use of any hyperlinks or other links; (4) your use of any materials (including text, video clips, photographs, images and sound bites) in which any third party has an ownership interest; and (5) any proposed modification of your website. We may designate the form and content of your website and/or require that any such website be hosted by us or a third party designated by us, using one or more websites that we own and/or control. In addition, we may require you to establish hyperlinks to our website or another website designated by us. We may charge you a fee for developing, reviewing and approving your website and/or for hosting the website.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 36–38)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Chicken Guy's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must adhere to specific rules when using the company's Proprietary Marks. Chicken Guy prohibits franchisees from using the Proprietary Marks on vehicles without prior written approval, modifying the marks in any way, or using variations of the marks not explicitly authorized by Chicken Guy. Franchisees also cannot use the Proprietary Marks in any corporate or business name, or in conjunction with other trade names or trademarks at the Franchised Restaurant. The use of the appropriate symbols (® for registered marks and ™ for pending registrations) is mandatory. Furthermore, franchisees are prohibited from using the Proprietary Marks to sell unauthorized products or services.
Chicken Guy also restricts the use of Proprietary Marks on the internet. Franchisees must obtain prior written consent to use the Proprietary Marks on any Internet domain name, e-mail address, or website. Chicken Guy has the discretion to grant or withhold consent and may impose conditions, including requiring prior written approval of domain names, website content, hyperlinks, and use of third-party materials. Chicken Guy may also designate the form and content of the website, require hosting by the company or a designated third party, and mandate hyperlinks to Chicken Guy's website. The company may charge fees for developing, reviewing, approving, or hosting the franchisee's website.
These regulations ensure brand consistency and protect Chicken Guy's trademarks. Franchisees must be vigilant about adhering to these rules to avoid potential breaches of the franchise agreement. It is common practice in franchising for franchisors to maintain strict control over their trademarks to protect brand identity and prevent misuse. Prospective franchisees should carefully review these requirements and seek clarification from Chicken Guy regarding any specific concerns or planned uses of the Proprietary Marks.