Who owns the www.hotchiknkitchn.com domain name and URL for Hck Hot Chicken?
Hck_Hot_Chicken Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 8.5.3 Franchisee acknowledges and agrees that Franchisor (or its Affiliate) is the owner of, and will retain all right, title and interest in and to (i) the www.hotchiknkitchn.com domain name and URL; all existing and future domain names, URLs, future addresses and subaddresses using the Marks in any manner; (ii) means all computer programs and computer code (e.g., HTML, XML DHTML, Java) used for or on the Franchisor's web site(s), excluding any software owned by third parties; (iii) all text, images, sounds, files, video, designs, animations, layout, color schemes, trade dress, concepts, methods, techniques, processes and data used in connection with, displayed on, or collected from or through Franchisor's web site(s); and (v) all intellectual property rights in or to any of the foregoing.
Source: Item 21 — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (FDD page 54)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Hck Hot Chicken Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor, or its affiliate, owns the www.hotchiknkitchn.com domain name and URL. The franchisee acknowledges and agrees that Hck Hot Chicken (or its affiliate) retains all rights, title, and interest in the domain name and URL. This means that while franchisees may have a presence on the website, they do not own or control the domain itself.
This is a common practice in franchising, as it allows Hck Hot Chicken to maintain brand consistency and control over its online presence. The franchisor also retains ownership of all existing and future domain names, URLs, future addresses, and subaddresses using the brand's marks. This ensures that Hck Hot Chicken can manage and protect its brand identity online.
Furthermore, Hck Hot Chicken owns all computer programs and code used for the website, excluding third-party software, along with all text, images, sounds, files, video, designs, and other intellectual property related to the website. This comprehensive ownership allows Hck Hot Chicken to modify or terminate the website without liability to the franchisee, giving them significant control over the brand's digital assets.