Who retains the sole right to advertise the Dq Treat System on the internet?
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 Franchise Disclosure Document, Dq Treat retains the sole right to advertise the Dq Treat system on the internet. This includes the right to create, operate, maintain, modify, or discontinue websites, including social media pages and profiles, that use Dq Treat's trademarks.
For a prospective franchisee, this means that while you can access Dq Treat's website, you generally cannot conduct business, offer to sell, or advertise any products or services on the internet without written authorization from Dq Treat. Additionally, franchisees are prohibited from linking or framing Dq Treat's website or registering any internet domain names connected to the Dq Treat restaurant.
This restriction is common in franchising, as franchisors like Dq Treat want to maintain brand consistency and control over their online presence. It ensures that all online advertising and marketing efforts align with the brand's overall strategy and standards. While franchisees can use trademarks on materials like business cards with certain stipulations, online advertising remains under the franchisor's purview.
Dq Treat does allow franchisees to use the Trademarks on various materials, such as business cards, stationery and checks, on the condition that the franchisee accurately depicts the Trademarks on the materials, includes a statement on the materials indicating that the business is independently owned and operated by Licensee, and makes available to Company, upon its request, a copy of any materials depicting the Trademarks.