factual

Will Bang Cookies protect a franchisee's right to use the Licensed Marks?

Bang_Cookies Franchise · 2024 FDD

Answer from 2024 FDD Document

e expenses that you incur and pay in complying with our written instructions.

We will protect your right to use the Licensed Marks and other related rights and to protect you against claims of infringement and unfair competition related to the Licensed Marks, provided that you use the Licensed Marks in accordance with the terms of your Franchise Agreement, as designated by us in the Manuals, and, otherwise, as we instruct you. We will indemnify you against direct damages for trademark infringement in a proceeding arising out of your use of the Licensed Marks, provided your use of the Licensed Marks comply with the terms of your Franchise Agreement, the Manuals, our written instructions and, that you have timely notified us of the claim, have given us sole control of the defense and settlement of the claim, and you are in compliance with your Franchise Agreement and, if applicable, Multi-Unit Development Agreement. If we defend the claim, we have no obligation to indemnify or reimburse you with respect to any fees or disbursements of any attorney that you retain.

If any third party establishes, to our satisfaction and in our discretion that its rights to the Licensed Marks are, for any legal reason, superior to any of our rights or of a nature that we believe, in our discretion, that it is advisable to discontinue and/or modify the Licensed Marks, then we will modify and/or replace the Licensed Marks and you must use the substitutions, replacements and/or variations of and/or to the Licensed Marks and use those trademarks, service marks, logos and trade names required and designated by us. In such event, our sole liability and obligation will be to reimburse you for the direct out-of-pocket costs of complying with this obligation, which you must document to our satisfaction, including, by way of example, alterations in signage and replacement of marketing materials.

ITEM 14 PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

We do not own any rights to, or licenses in any patent or copyrights material to the franchise System**.** We may copyright advertising materials and design specifications, our Manuals and other written materials and items. We have not applied to the USPTO for the issuance of any patents.

You must keep as confidential our Manuals and any supplements to the Manuals. Our Manuals may take the form of written materials and/or digitally distributed and stored materials and made available to you for use in connection with the Franchised Business. The Manuals contain information about our System, Approved Services and Products, System Supplies, proprietary products, marketing systems, training, and confidential methods of operation. You must use all reasonable and prudent means to maintain the Manuals and the information maintained in the Manuals as confidential and prevent any unauthorized copies, recordings, reproduction, or distribution of the Manuals or the information contained in the Manuals. You must also restrict access to the Manuals to management level employees who sign a confidentiality agreement with you and are required by you to maintain the confidentiality of the Manuals and refrain from distributing or disclosing the Manuals and the information contained in the Manuals.

Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 38–39)

What This Means (2024 FDD)

According to Bang Cookies's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, Bang Cookies will protect a franchisee's right to use the Licensed Marks. Bang Cookies will also protect franchisees against claims of infringement and unfair competition related to the Licensed Marks, provided that the franchisee uses the Licensed Marks in accordance with the terms of the Franchise Agreement, as designated in the Manuals, and as otherwise instructed by Bang Cookies.

Bang Cookies will indemnify a franchisee against direct damages for trademark infringement in a proceeding arising out of the franchisee's use of the Licensed Marks, provided the franchisee's use of the Licensed Marks complies with the terms of the Franchise Agreement, the Manuals, Bang Cookies's written instructions, and that Bang Cookies is notified of the claim in a timely manner. The franchisee must also give Bang Cookies sole control of the defense and settlement of the claim, and the franchisee must be in compliance with their Franchise Agreement and, if applicable, Multi-Unit Development Agreement. If Bang Cookies defends the claim, they have no obligation to indemnify or reimburse the franchisee with respect to any fees or disbursements of any attorney that the franchisee retains.

However, if a third party establishes rights to the Licensed Marks that are superior to Bang Cookies's rights, or if Bang Cookies believes it is advisable to discontinue or modify the Licensed Marks, Bang Cookies will modify or replace the Licensed Marks. In this case, the franchisee must use the substitutions, replacements, or variations of the Licensed Marks required and designated by Bang Cookies. Bang Cookies's sole liability and obligation will be to reimburse the franchisee for the direct out-of-pocket costs of complying with this obligation, which the franchisee must document to Bang Cookies's satisfaction. This includes alterations in signage and replacement of marketing materials.

The franchisee is required to provide Bang Cookies with written notice of any claims they become aware of respecting the Licensed Marks, including their use of the Licensed Marks and any claim associated with a third party's use of a trademark that is identical or confusingly similar to the Licensed Marks. Bang Cookies maintains the exclusive discretion to take any and all actions, or to refrain from any action, that they believe to be appropriate in response to any trademark infringement, challenge, or claim. Bang Cookies possesses the sole right to exclusively control any and all litigation, legal proceedings, administrative proceedings, and settlements involving any actual or alleged infringement, challenge, or claim relating to the Licensed Marks. The franchisee must sign all documents, instruments, and agreements and undertake the actions that Bang Cookies, with the advice of their legal counsel, determines to be necessary or advisable for the protection and maintenance of their interests in the Licensed Marks in any legal proceeding, administrative proceeding, or as may be otherwise determined by them. Bang Cookies will reimburse the franchisee for the reasonable out-of-pocket administrative expenses that the franchisee incurs and pays in complying with Bang Cookies's written instructions.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.