factual

Does City Publications retain the sole right to use the Marks on the Internet?

City_Publications Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

We have established and maintain an Internet website at www.citypublication.com that provides information about the CITY PUBLICATIONS System and the services that you and we provide. We will establish a website for your Franchised Business with a link to our website. You are responsible for maintaining the website created for your Franchised Business. We may (but are not required to) include an interior page at our website about your Franchised Business. If we include information about your Franchised Business on our website, we may require you to prepare all or a portion of the page at your expense using our template. We review and approve all information you prepare prior to posting it. We retain the sole right to market on the Internet, including all use of websites, domain names, URL's linking, meta-tags, marketing, auction sites, e-commerce and co-branding arrangements. You may be required to provide content for our Internet marketing. You must follow our intranet and Internet usage rules, policies and requirements. We retain the sole right to use the Marks on the Internet, including on websites, as domain names, directory addresses, search terms, meta-tags, and in connection with linking, marketing, digital marketing, social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and any co-branding and other arrangements. We retain the sole right to approve any linking or other use of our website. You may not establish a presence on, or market using, the Internet for the Franchised Business unless you first obtain our consent. If we approve your independent website, we may require that your site may only be accessed through our home page. (Section 11.D)

Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 19–24)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to City Publications' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, City Publications retains the sole right to market on the Internet, including all use of websites, domain names, URLs, linking, meta-tags, marketing, auction sites, e-commerce, and co-branding arrangements. Franchisees may be required to provide content for City Publications' Internet marketing and must adhere to the company's intranet and Internet usage rules, policies, and requirements.

City Publications maintains the sole right to use the Marks on the Internet, including on websites, as domain names, directory addresses, search terms, meta-tags, and in connection with linking, marketing, digital marketing, and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. This also extends to any co-branding and other arrangements. City Publications retains the right to approve any linking or other use of its website.

Franchisees may not establish a presence on, or market using, the Internet for the Franchised Business without first obtaining City Publications' consent. If City Publications approves an independent website for a franchisee, it may require that the site only be accessed through City Publications' home page. This indicates that while franchisees can have an online presence, City Publications maintains significant control over how its brand and marks are used online, ensuring consistency and quality across all digital platforms.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.