Does Apricot Lane have any unregistered copyrights?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
perpetual, worldwide, fully paid license, with right to sublicense through multiple tiers, to such rights. Franchisee acknowledges that there are, and may be, future rights that Franchisee may otherwise become entitled to with respect to the Content that do not yet exist, as well as new uses, media, means and forms of exploitation throughout the universe exploiting current or future technology yet to be developed, and Franchisee specifically intends the foregoing assignment of rights to include all such now known or unknown uses, media and forms of exploitation throughout the universe.
Franchisor respects the intellectual property of others, and expects Franchisee to do the same with the E-Commerce Platform. Franchisor reserves the right to disable or terminate Franchisee's right to use the E-Commerce Platform if Franchisee infringes the copyrights or other intellectual property rights of others. Franchisee shall not rent, lease, distribute (or redistribute) or otherwise make available the E-Commerce Platform, in any form, to any third party without Franchisor's consent. Franchisor shall not unreasonably withhold consent to Franchisee making the E-Commerce Platform available for use by other Apricot Lane stores owned by Franchisee or any of its affiliates, subject to such conditions and requirements Franchisor may impose from time to time.
Franchisee's use of the E-Commerce Platform is solely to support the Franchised Business, and Franchisee shall not copy, distribute or transfer any portion of the E-Commerce Platform on any media or alter, adapt or otherwise modify any part of the E-Commerce Platform except as may be set forth in the Confidential Operating Manual or consented to by Franchisor.
FRANCHISOR IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN THE E-COMMERCE PLATFORM, INCLUDING ANY CONTENT CONTAINED IN THE E-COMMERCE PLATFORM. FRANCHISOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO WITHHOLD, REMOVE AND DISCARD ANY CONTENT ON THE E-COMMERCE PLATFORM, WITH OR WITHOUT NOTICE AT ANY TIME. FRANCHISEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SEPARATELY BACKING-UP ALL OF ITS DATA AND INFORMATION. FRANCHISEE'S USE OF THE
E-COMMERCE PLATFORM IS AT ITS SOLE RISK. FRANCHISOR MAKES NO WARRANTY THAT THE E-COMMERCE PLATFORM SHALL MEET FFRANCHISEE'S REQUIREMENTS.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 33–34)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
Based on the 2025 Apricot Lane FDD, while the document discusses copyrights and intellectual property, it does not explicitly state whether Apricot Lane has any unregistered copyrights. However, the FDD does state that franchisees must promptly notify COUNTRY VISIONS (Apricot Lane's franchisor) of any infringement or challenge to the use of the Marks. Additionally, franchisees must respect the intellectual property of others regarding the E-Commerce Platform, and Apricot Lane reserves the right to disable or terminate a franchisee's right to use the E-Commerce Platform if the franchisee infringes on the copyrights or other intellectual property rights of others.
The FDD also indicates that all ideas, concepts, techniques, or materials relating to an Apricot Lane store are the sole and exclusive property of COUNTRY VISIONS, regardless of whether they are protectable intellectual property. Franchisees are required to disclose any such innovations to COUNTRY VISIONS and assign ownership of those innovations to COUNTRY VISIONS.
Because the FDD does not explicitly address unregistered copyrights, a prospective franchisee should ask Apricot Lane about any unregistered copyrights they may have and how those copyrights are protected and enforced. This information would be important for a franchisee to understand their obligations and rights regarding intellectual property.