What ownership interest does a Cicis franchisee have in the Internet domains 'www.cicispizza.com' and 'www.cicis.com'?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- (5) We or our affiliates are the lawful, rightful, and sole owner of the Internet domains named "www.cicispizza.com," "www.cicis.com," and any other Internet domain names we register, and you hereby unconditionally disclaim any ownership interest in those or any colorably similar Internet domain name.
You will not register any Internet domain name in any class or category that contains words used in or similar to any brand name we or our affiliates own or any abbreviation, acronym, phonetic variation, or visual variation of those words.
- (6) You will not use the Marks or any abbreviation or other name associated with us or the System as part of any e-mail address, domain name, or other identification of you in any electronic medium.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 64–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Cicis Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee has no ownership interest in the Internet domains 'www.cicispizza.com' and 'www.cicis.com'. Cicis or its affiliates are the sole owners of these domain names, as well as any other Internet domain names they register. The franchisee unconditionally disclaims any ownership interest in these domains or any similar domain names. This means that franchisees cannot claim any rights or control over these online assets.
This provision ensures that Cicis maintains complete control over its online brand presence and digital assets. It prevents franchisees from creating websites or online identities that could potentially confuse customers or dilute the brand's value. By retaining ownership of these domains, Cicis can ensure consistent branding and messaging across all online platforms.
Furthermore, the franchisee is prohibited from registering any Internet domain name that contains words used in or similar to any brand name owned by Cicis or its affiliates. This restriction extends to any abbreviation, acronym, phonetic variation, or visual variation of those words. Additionally, franchisees cannot use the Cicis marks or any associated names as part of any email address, domain name, or other electronic identification.
For a prospective franchisee, this means they must rely on Cicis for all online marketing and branding efforts. They cannot create their own websites using the Cicis name or similar domain names. This arrangement ensures brand consistency but also limits the franchisee's ability to independently promote their specific location online using a branded domain.