For Dq Treat franchisees, what happens to their right to participate in online communication or use the Trademarks or System on the internet when the franchise agreement expires or terminates?
Dq_Treat Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 3.4 Restrictions on Internet and Website Use. Company retains the sole right to advertise the System on the internet and to create, operate, maintain and modify, or discontinue the use of, websites (including pages and profiles on social media websites) using the Trademarks. Licensee has the right to access Company's website. Except as Company may authorize in writing, however, Licensee will not: (1) link or frame Company's website; (2) conduct any business or offer to sell or advertise any products or services on the internet (or any other existing or future form of electronic communication); and (3) create or register any internet domain name in connection with the Restaurant. Licensee will not register, as internet domain names, any of the Trademarks now or hereafter owned by Company or any abbreviation,
Source: Item 17 — The following paragraph is added to the end of Item 17 of the Disclosure Document: (FDD pages 70–378)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Dq Treat FDD, upon the termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, the franchisee's rights regarding internet and website use are restricted. Dq Treat retains the sole right to advertise the System on the internet and to create, operate, maintain, modify, or discontinue websites using the Trademarks.
Specifically, the franchisee's right to access Dq Treat's website is maintained, but they are restricted from certain activities unless expressly authorized in writing by Dq Treat. These restrictions include linking or framing Dq Treat's website, conducting any business or offering to sell or advertise any products or services on the internet, and creating or registering any internet domain name in connection with the Restaurant.
Furthermore, franchisees are prohibited from registering any of the Trademarks owned by Dq Treat as internet domain names, including any abbreviation or variation. This ensures that Dq Treat maintains control over its brand and online presence, preventing franchisees from independently using the internet to promote their individual locations without explicit permission.