Why Your FiveM Server Can't Use Real Brands (And What to Use Instead)
Every MLO builder eventually hits this wall: Tebex pulls your listing because of a Starbucks logo. Here's the full guide to GTA V lore-friendly brands and why they protect your revenue.
If you've been building MLOs for any length of time, you've probably heard the horror story: a developer puts months into a high-quality interior, lists it on Tebex, and then gets a takedown notice because they used a real brand's logo on the signage.
This isn't theoretical. It happens regularly. And it's entirely preventable.
The Rule Is Simple
Every MLO you sell on Tebex or cfx.re — or include in any server build — must use fictional brand names instead of real-world trademarks. Rockstar spent years building out GTA V's satirical brand universe specifically because they couldn't (and wouldn't) license real brands. Your work lives inside that universe.
The brands they created aren't random. They're direct parodies with recognizable aesthetics. You can build an entire fast food restaurant interior without ever mentioning McDonald's.
The Brands That Get Developers Removed
These are the most common mistakes:
| Real Brand | What Happens | GTA V Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Starbucks | Listing removed | The Bean Machine, Cool Beans Coffee House |
| McDonald's / KFC | TOS violation | Burger Shot, Cluckin' Bell |
| 7-Eleven | Not permitted | LTD Convenience, 24/7 |
| Walmart / Target | Takedown | LTD Convenience, Supa Save |
| Chase / Wells Fargo | Not usable | Fleeca Bank |
| CVS / Walgreens | Not usable | Betta Pharmaceuticals |
The Brand Categories That Matter Most
Fast Food
Burger Shot is your McDonald's — blue/yellow, recognizable, has established FiveM presence. For chicken, use Cluckin' Bell. For Mexican, Taco Bomb. For donuts, Rusty Brown's Ring Donuts. Pick one per build and commit to it.
Coffee
The Bean Machine covers the major chain aesthetic. Cool Beans Coffee House gives you the Mirror Park indie-café vibe if you want something more artisanal.
Banking
Fleeca Bank has physical in-game locations and is the established FiveM standard for heist RP. Use it for branch interiors. Maze Bank for the corporate tower aesthetic.
Medical
Pillbox Hill Medical Center (PHMC) is canonical. Use it as your primary hospital branding. Betta Pharmaceuticals in the pharmacy wing.
The Build That Protects You: Unlocked YTDs
Beyond just using the right names, the professional move is shipping your MLOs with unlocked texture dictionaries (.ytd). This lets server owners swap the logo for their own brand without touching your meshes or scripts.
Why this matters: a server running a custom name for their mechanic shop shouldn't need to break your MLO to change signage. Unlocked YTDs make your work more useful, drive more sales, and protect buyers from exactly the problem you're trying to avoid.
For Commission Work
When you're building for a client, the same rules apply — even if you don't sell the asset publicly. The client's server could be reviewed. The IP risk doesn't disappear because money changed hands privately.
The standard move: build with GTA lore brands by default, note it in the contract, and offer unlocked YTDs as a deliverable. If the client wants custom branding (their server's fictional brand), charge for the texture work as a line item.
Use the Lore Generator to look up the right brand for any interior type before you start building.
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