Who owns the technology and intellectual property resulting from the Crave Brand Development Fund?

According to Crave's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Crave Franchising, LLC retains ownership of the copyrights to all material on any website they establish and maintain. This includes any material a franchisee might furnish for their "click through" subpage. This means that while franchisees may contribute content, Crave maintains ultimate control and ownership of the intellectual property.

This policy extends to social media initiatives as well. Crave controls all social media initiatives and requires franchisees to comply with system standards regarding social media use. Franchisees must obtain prior written approval before promoting their franchised business or using any proprietary marks on social media platforms. Crave will provide access to branded social media pages, handles, and assets, which franchisees must update regularly. Crave also reserves the right to conduct collective or national campaigns via local social media on behalf of the franchisee.

For a prospective franchisee, this means that while they contribute to the Brand Development Fund and may even participate in an advisory council, they do not gain ownership of any intellectual property or technology developed through these efforts. Crave retains sole ownership and control, which is a common practice in franchising to maintain brand consistency and protect intellectual property rights. Franchisees should be aware that their contributions to the Fund benefit the entire Crave system, and they do not have direct control over how the funds are used or the resulting intellectual property.