Is a Punch King Fitness franchisee allowed to advertise their franchise business on social media?
Punch_King_Fitness Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Social Media
You may not establish or maintain a domain name, an internet website, or a webpage that relates to or advertises your Punch King Fitness Franchised Business or displays the Marks, as we reserve the exclusive right to control any websites or web pages concerning Punch King Fitness Franchise Businesses and the Marks. You may advertise and promote your Franchised Business via Social Media, which may be comprised of pages, communications, and content located on third-party platforms using the Proprietary Marks as specified by us (collectively, "Franchisee's Social Media"), provided that we are granted administrative access to your Social Media. All uses of Social Media and communication channels and uses must be established in accordance and at all times comply with the Operating Manual and System Standards. We will be the sole owner of all related intellectual property rights of all Social Media and other digital and media accounts and all content posted on Social Media.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 28–35)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Punch King Fitness's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are permitted to advertise and promote their franchise business through social media. This includes using pages, communications, and content on third-party platforms while using Punch King Fitness's proprietary marks. However, this is contingent upon Punch King Fitness being granted administrative access to the franchisee's social media accounts.
All social media usage and communication channels must adhere to the guidelines set forth in the Punch King Fitness Operating Manual and System Standards. It is important to note that Punch King Fitness retains sole ownership of all related intellectual property rights for all social media and other digital and media accounts, as well as all content posted on these platforms.
Furthermore, franchisees are restricted from establishing or maintaining their own domain names, internet websites, or webpages that relate to or advertise their Punch King Fitness franchise or display the brand's marks. Punch King Fitness reserves the exclusive right to control any websites or webpages concerning Punch King Fitness franchise businesses and its marks. This indicates that while franchisees can use social media for promotion, their online presence is heavily regulated and controlled by the franchisor.