What level of cooperation is required from a Bambu franchisee in trademark infringement litigation?

According to Bambu's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee must fully cooperate with Bambu in any litigation regarding mark infringement. This requirement is part of the broader agreement where Bambu retains significant control over its trademarks and brand identity.

This means that if Bambu initiates legal action against a third party for using a trademark similar to theirs, the franchisee is obligated to assist Bambu in the legal process. This cooperation could involve providing documentation, offering testimony, or any other reasonable assistance requested by Bambu to protect its trademarks. While the FDD stipulates that Bambu bears the reasonable costs of such actions, including attorney's fees, the franchisee must still dedicate time and resources to support the litigation.

This obligation ensures that Bambu can effectively defend its brand and system standards, which are crucial for maintaining consistency and quality across all franchise locations. For a prospective franchisee, this highlights the importance of understanding the franchisor's role in protecting the brand and the franchisee's responsibility to support those efforts. Failure to cooperate could potentially lead to breaches of the franchise agreement and associated penalties.