What is an Aerus licensee prohibited from doing with designations (including copyright notices) included in the Software or Documentation?

According to Aerus's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, as a licensee, you are prohibited from removing or altering any designations, including copyright notices, that Aerus or its licensors include in the software, on the distribution media, and/or in the documentation. These designations indicate that the material is the proprietary property of Aerus or its licensors.

This restriction is typical in franchising, as franchisors need to protect their intellectual property. By preventing franchisees from altering or removing copyright notices and other proprietary designations, Aerus ensures that its ownership and the ownership of its licensors are clearly established and maintained. This helps to prevent unauthorized use or distribution of the software and documentation.

For a prospective Aerus franchisee, this means you must be careful to maintain all copyright and proprietary notices as they are provided. Failure to do so could result in a breach of the software license agreement and potentially lead to legal action from Aerus. It is important to ensure that all employees who have access to the software and documentation are aware of this restriction and comply with it.