If I make improvements to the Basecamp Fitness system, who owns those improvements?
Basecamp_Fitness Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- C. If you conceive or develop any improvements or additions to the System, new trade names, trade and service marks or other commercial symbols related to your Basecamp Studio, or any advertising and promotion ideas related to your Basecamp Studio, or have any suggestions, comments, or other feedback with respect to the System (collectively, "Improvements"), you will fully disclose the Improvements to us without disclosure of the Improvements to others, and you will obtain our written approval before using such Improvements. Any such Improvement that we approve may be used by us and all our other franchisees without any liability to you or obligation to pay you royalties or other compensation. You will assign Improvements to us, and hereby do assign, without charge, any rights, together with the goodwill associated with the Improvements, including the right to grant sublicenses to any such Improvement. We, at our discretion, may make application for and own copyrights, trade names, trademarks and service marks relating to any such Improvement. We also may consider such Improvement as our property and trade secret. We will, however, authorize you to use any Improvement authorized generally for use by our other franchisees.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 61–62)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Basecamp Fitness's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, any improvements or additions you conceive or develop related to the Basecamp Studio system, trade names, marks, advertising ideas, or feedback are considered "Improvements". You must fully disclose these Improvements to Basecamp Fitness before sharing them with others and obtain their written approval before using them.
Any Improvement that Basecamp Fitness approves may be used by them and all other franchisees without any obligation to you. You will assign all rights to these Improvements to Basecamp Fitness, including the right to grant sublicenses, without any charge.
Basecamp Fitness has the discretion to apply for and own copyrights, trade names, trademarks, and service marks related to any such Improvement, and they may consider the Improvement as their property and trade secret. However, Basecamp Fitness will authorize you to use any Improvement authorized generally for use by their other franchisees. This means that while you must assign ownership of any improvements to Basecamp Fitness, you may still be able to use them if they are approved for general use within the franchise system.