What documents is a Cicis franchisee required to execute to protect the Marks?

According to Cicis's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must execute any documents that Cicis deems necessary to protect the Marks or to maintain their continued validity and enforceability. This requirement ensures that Cicis can take the legal steps needed to safeguard its brand identity and prevent unauthorized use of its trademarks.

In addition to executing necessary documents, Cicis franchisees must adhere to specific guidelines regarding the use of the Marks. They must operate and advertise their restaurant only under the name "Cicis" without any unauthorized prefixes or suffixes, and they cannot use the Marks as part of their corporate or legal name. Franchisees are also required to identify themselves as the independent owners of their restaurant and must not indicate that they are an affiliate of Cicis on legal documents or contracts.

Furthermore, franchisees must use the trade name assigned to their restaurant and comply with all applicable laws related to trade name or fictitious name registrations. They are prohibited from registering any Internet domain name that contains words used in or similar to any brand name owned by Cicis or its affiliates. Franchisees also cannot use the Marks or any abbreviation associated with Cicis as part of any email address or domain name.

These stipulations are typical in franchising, as franchisors need to maintain tight control over their brand to ensure consistency and protect their intellectual property. By requiring franchisees to execute necessary documents and adhere to brand usage guidelines, Cicis aims to preserve the integrity and value of its Marks.