What is the permitted purpose for Annex Brands franchisees to make archival copies of the 'PostalMate' program?
Annex_Brands Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Master Licensee authorizes End User to make archival copies of the Program for the sole purpose of backing-up the software and protecting the End User's investment. Any reproductions made pursuant to the terms of this paragraph must include PostalMate's copyright notice, patent notice, trademark, service mark, and other proprietary Master Licensee markings and/or confidential legends on any and all copies of the Product.
Source: Item 22 — Contracts (FDD pages 109–110)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Annex Brands' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are authorized to make archival copies of the PostalMate program for the sole purpose of backing up the software and protecting their investment. This allowance ensures that franchisees can safeguard their operational capabilities against data loss or software corruption.
The FDD specifies that any reproductions of the PostalMate program must include PostalMate's copyright, patent, trademark, service mark, and other proprietary markings. This requirement protects PostalMate's intellectual property rights and ensures that all copies are properly attributed.
This provision is important for prospective franchisees as it provides a degree of security and business continuity. By allowing archival copies, Annex Brands enables franchisees to quickly recover from technical issues without significant disruption to their business operations, provided they adhere to the marking requirements. Franchisees should ensure they understand and comply with these requirements to avoid any potential breach of the franchise agreement.