Is Cicis obligated to protect any rights franchisees have to use the copyrights?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
There are no presently effective determinations of the U.S. Copyright Office (Library of Congress) or any court affecting our copyrights. There is no currently effective agreement that limits our right to use and/or license our copyrights. We may freely require you to modify or discontinue the use of any materials in which we claim a patent or copyright, without any compensation to you. We are not obligated to protect any rights you have to use the copyrights. We have no actual knowledge of any infringements that could materially affect the ownership, use or licensing of the copyrights.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 42–43)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Cicis Franchise Disclosure Document, Cicis is generally not obligated to protect a franchisee's rights to use its copyrights. Cicis retains the right to require franchisees to modify or discontinue using any materials for which it claims a copyright, without providing any compensation to the franchisee.
This means that while Cicis grants franchisees the right to use its copyrighted materials to operate their restaurants, this right is not guaranteed against potential challenges or changes. Cicis can change the materials franchisees are allowed to use, and franchisees must comply without receiving compensation for any resulting losses or expenses.
This lack of obligation to protect a franchisee's rights to use the copyrights could pose a risk. If a third party were to claim that the franchisee's use of Cicis's copyrighted materials infringes on their rights, Cicis is not obligated to defend the franchisee or cover any resulting damages. Franchisees should consider this potential risk and factor it into their decision-making process.
Prospective franchisees should seek clarification from Cicis regarding the potential for changes to copyrighted materials and the circumstances under which Cicis might offer support or protection in the event of a copyright-related claim.