What rights does Petro Stopping Center have regarding a franchisee's use of e-names?
Petro_Stopping_Center Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We have the right to control or designate the manner of your use of all e-names.
We also have the right to designate, approve, control or limit all aspects of your use of e-commerce.
You must follow all of our policies and procedures for the use and regulation of ecommerce, including all of our policies and procedures for customer referrals via e-commerce.
We may require that you provide graphical, photographic, written or other forms of artistic or literary content to us for use in e-commerce activities associated with the Marks or the Petro System which we may designate.
You recognize and agree that we own all rights, title and interest in and to any and all websites and any e-names we commission or utilize, or require or permit you to utilize, in connection with the Petro System which bear our Marks or any derivative of our Marks.
You also recognize and agree that we own all rights, title and interest in and to any and all data or other
information collected via e-commerce related to the Petro System or the Marks, including any customer data, click-stream data, cookies, user data, hits and the like.
Such data or other information also constitutes our Confidential Information.
Source: Item 14 — Other investments (FDD pages 131–208)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Petro Stopping Center's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Petro Stopping Center retains significant control over a franchisee's use of e-names. The document defines "e-names" as URLs, domain names, website addresses, metatags, links, keywords, email addresses, and social media accounts.
Petro Stopping Center has the right to control or designate how franchisees use all e-names. They can also designate, approve, control, or limit all aspects of a franchisee's e-commerce activities. This includes requiring franchisees to adhere to Petro Stopping Center's policies and procedures for e-commerce, including customer referral protocols.
Furthermore, Petro Stopping Center may require franchisees to provide graphical, photographic, written, or other forms of artistic or literary content for use in e-commerce activities associated with the brand. The franchisee must also recognize that Petro Stopping Center owns all rights to any websites and e-names they commission, utilize, or require the franchisee to use in connection with the Petro System. This extends to all data collected via e-commerce related to the Petro System, including customer data and user data, which is considered confidential information belonging to Petro Stopping Center.