factual

Under the Bang Cookies Franchise Agreement, what are franchisees granted a license to use?

Bang_Cookies Franchise · 2024 FDD

Answer from 2024 FDD Document

the Franchised Business.

ITEM 13 TRADEMARKS

Under the terms of the Franchise Agreement, you will be granted a license to use the "Bang Cookies" trademark and those other marks that we designate. We reserve the right to supplement and modify the marks that you may or may not use in connection with the operations of your Shop. You may only use the Licensed Marks as authorized by us in writing and under the terms of your Franchise Agreement. You may not use the Licensed Marks in the name of any Corporate Entity that you establish.

Principal Trademarks Registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office

The principal trademarks identified in the schedule below are a part of the Licensed Marks, our System, are registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the "USPTO") and, unless otherwise designated by us, will be used by you in the operations of the Franchised Business. As to these marks all required affidavits have been filed with the USPTO.

Mark USPTO Registration Number Registration Type Registration Date
Bang Cookies 6344327 Principal May 11, 2011

Principal Trademarks Not Registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office

The following principal trademarks identified in the schedule below are a part of the Licensed Marks, our System, and will be used by you in the operations of the Franchised Business but are not registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO"). As to each of these principal trademarks:

We do not have a federal registration for each of these principal trademarks. Therefore, the trademarks identified below do not have many legal benefits and rights that are afforded to federally registered trademarks. If our right to use the trademarks (identified below) is challenged, you may have to change to an alternative trademark, which may increase your expenses.

| Mark | Serial Number for | Application Type | Application Date | |---|---|---|---| | | Registration Application Filed with USPTO Application | | | | N/A | | N/A | N/A | As to our principal trademarks there are no currently effective material determinations by the USPTO, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, any court, or the trademark administrator of any state. There are no pending infringement, opposition or cancellation proceedings and no pending litigation involving our principal marks. We know of no superior rights or infringing uses that could materially affect your use of our principal marks or other related rights in any state.

You are required to provide us with written notice of any claims that you may become aware of respecting the Licensed Marks, including your use of the Licensed Marks and/or any claim associated with a third party's use of a trademark that is identical or confusingly similar to the Licensed Marks. We maintain the exclusive discretion to take any and all actions, or to refrain from any action, that we believe to be appropriate in response to any trademark infringement, challenge or claim. As between us, we possess the sole right to exclusively control any and all litigation, legal proceedings, administrative proceedings and/or settlement(s) involving any actual or alleged infringement, challenge or claim relating to the Licensed Marks. You must sign all documents, instruments and agreements and undertake the actions that we, with

the advice of our legal counsel, determine to be necessary or advisable for the protection and/or maintenance of our interests in the Licensed Marks in any legal proceeding, administrative proceeding or as may be otherwise determined by us. As to the foregoing, we will reimburse you for the reasonable out-of-pocket administrative expenses that you incur and pay in complying with our written instructions.

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

What This Means (2024 FDD)

According to Bang Cookies's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are granted a license to use the "Bang Cookies" trademark and other marks designated by Bang Cookies. However, Bang Cookies retains the right to modify these marks, and franchisees can only use them as authorized in writing and under the terms of the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees are prohibited from using the Licensed Marks in the name of any Corporate Entity they establish. One principal trademark, "Bang Cookies", is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office under registration number 6344327, with a registration date of May 11, 2011.

Bang Cookies will protect the franchisee's right to use the Licensed Marks and defend against infringement claims, provided the franchisee uses the marks according to the Franchise Agreement and Manuals. Franchisees must notify Bang Cookies of any claims regarding the Licensed Marks. Bang Cookies maintains exclusive control over any legal proceedings related to trademark issues and will reimburse franchisees for reasonable out-of-pocket administrative expenses incurred at Bang Cookies's written instruction to protect the marks.

If a third party establishes superior rights to the Licensed Marks, Bang Cookies will modify or replace the marks, and franchisees must use the new marks. In such cases, Bang Cookies's sole obligation is to reimburse franchisees for direct out-of-pocket costs of complying with this change, such as alterations in signage and replacement of marketing materials, provided these costs are documented to Bang Cookies's satisfaction. Some principal trademarks used in the franchised business are not registered with the USPTO, which means they do not have the same legal protections as registered trademarks. If the right to use these unregistered trademarks is challenged, franchisees may have to switch to an alternative trademark, potentially increasing their expenses.

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.