What is the Crave franchisee prohibited from doing under the Development Agreement?
Crave Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are not permitted to promote your Franchised Business or use any of the Proprietary Marks in any manner or maintain any business profile on Facebook, Twitter, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or any other social media and/or networking site without our prior written approval. We will control all social media initiatives. You must comply with our System standards regarding the use of social media in your Franchised Business' operation, including prohibitions on your and the Franchised Business' employees posting or blogging comments about the Franchised Business or the System, other than on a website established or authorized by us ("social media" includes personal blogs, common social networks, professional networks, live-blogging tools, virtual worlds, file, audio and video-sharing sites, and other similar social networking or media sites or tools). We will provide access to branded social media pages/handles/assets, and you must update these regularly. We reserve the right to conduct collective/national campaigns via local social media on your behalf.
We alone will be, and at all times will remain, the sole owner of the copyrights to all material which appears on any website we establish and maintain, including any and all material you may furnish to us for your "click through" subpage.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 63–253)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Crave's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee is restricted in how they can promote their franchised business, particularly concerning the use of the Crave brand name and proprietary marks. Specifically, franchisees are not allowed to promote their business or use any of Crave's proprietary marks in any manner, including maintaining a business profile on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, without prior written approval from Crave. This restriction extends to any social media or networking site.
Crave maintains control over all social media initiatives and requires franchisees to comply with system standards regarding social media use. This includes prohibitions on franchisees and their employees posting or blogging comments about the franchised business or the Crave system, except on websites established or authorized by Crave. Crave will provide access to branded social media pages, handles, and assets, which franchisees are required to update regularly.
Crave also reserves the right to conduct collective or national campaigns via local social media on behalf of the franchisee. Furthermore, Crave retains sole ownership of the copyrights to all material appearing on any website they establish and maintain, including any material furnished by the franchisee for their "click through" subpage. This ensures that Crave maintains a consistent brand image and messaging across all digital platforms, while limiting the franchisee's autonomy in online marketing and communication.