Can a Churchs Chicken franchisee use variations of the Proprietary Marks in their business name?
Churchs_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisee shall 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 Cajun or in any corporate, limited liability company or partnership name and shall not use any other trade names, service marks or trademarks in conjunction with the Franchised Restaurant.
If local laws or ordinances require that Franchisee file an affidavit of doing business under an assumed name or otherwise make a filing indicating that the Proprietary Marks are being used as a fictitious or assumed name, Franchisee shall include in such filing or application an indication that the filing is made "as a franchisee of Cajun Global LLC".
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 68–406)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Churchs Chicken Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are explicitly restricted from using the Proprietary Marks, or any variations thereof, in unauthorized ways. The Proprietary Marks encompass all identifiers of the Churchs Chicken system, including words, symbols, and designs.
Specifically, a Churchs Chicken franchisee cannot use the Proprietary Marks or any confusingly similar variations in any corporate, limited liability company, or partnership name. Additionally, franchisees are prohibited from using other trade names, service marks, or trademarks in conjunction with the Franchised Restaurant. However, if local laws require a filing indicating the Proprietary Marks are used as a fictitious name, the franchisee must indicate that the filing is made "as a franchisee of Cajun Global LLC".
These restrictions are typical in franchising, as franchisors need to protect their brand identity and ensure consistent representation across all franchise locations. Franchisees must adhere to these guidelines to maintain the integrity of the Churchs Chicken brand and avoid any potential legal issues related to trademark infringement.