What materials are included in Cicis' copyright and proprietary rights claim?

According to Cicis' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, while Cicis does not own any patents material to the franchise, they do claim copyright protection and proprietary rights. These rights extend to the original materials used within the Cicis system. This includes manuals, recipes, bulletins, correspondence and communications with franchisees, training materials, advertising and promotional materials, and other written materials related to the operation of Cicis restaurants and the overall system.

This means that franchisees must adhere to Cicis' guidelines and standards when operating their restaurants and using these materials. Franchisees are granted the right to use these copyrighted and proprietary materials as part of their franchise agreement, but they do not acquire ownership of the materials themselves. Unauthorized use or reproduction of these materials could lead to a breach of the franchise agreement.

Cicis also retains the right to modify or discontinue the use of any materials in which they claim a patent or copyright, without providing any compensation to the franchisee. This highlights the importance of franchisees staying updated with any changes or updates to the system's materials and adhering to Cicis' directives. Franchisees should seek clarification from Cicis regarding the specific scope and limitations of their rights to use these materials to ensure compliance and avoid potential disputes.