Does Batteries Plus Bulbs currently have any registered patents that are material to the franchise?
Batteries_Plus_Bulbs Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We do claim copyright ownership and protection for the Operations Manual and for certain other written materials we provide to assist you in operating your Store. The Batteries Plus Cross Reference Tool (ProSource RMS) is a registered copyright under registration number TXu 1-768-970 effective October 13, 2011. Other than this copyright registration, there are no patents or copyrights currently registered that are material to the franchise.
We own certain proprietary or confidential information relating to the operation of Stores, including information in the Operations Manual ("Confidential Information"). You must keep confidential during and after the term of the Franchise Agreement the Confidential Information. When your Franchise Agreement expires or terminates, you must return to us all Confidential Information and all other copyright material. You must notify us immediately if you learn of an unauthorized use of the Confidential Information. We are not obligated to take any action and we will have the sole right to decide the appropriate response to any unauthorized use of the Confidential Information. You must comply with all changes to the Operations Manual at your cost. We do acknowledge that we and you will jointly own Store customer data, other than key accounts customer data, that is located on the Retail Management System. We will periodically establish policies under which we or you may use this Store customer data. We currently share ownership of customer data for each key accounts customer with franchisees that will service that specific customer.
Source: Item 14 — Patents, Copyrights, and Proprietary Information (FDD page 47)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Batteries Plus Bulbs FDD, the company claims copyright ownership and protection for the Operations Manual and certain written materials provided to assist franchisees in operating their stores. The Batteries Plus Cross Reference Tool (ProSource RMS) is a registered copyright under registration number TXu 1-768-970, effective October 13, 2011. Besides this copyright registration, Batteries Plus Bulbs states that there are no other patents or copyrights currently registered that are material to the franchise.
Batteries Plus Bulbs also owns certain proprietary or confidential information relating to the operation of the stores, including information in the Operations Manual. Franchisees must keep this Confidential Information confidential both during and after the term of the Franchise Agreement. Upon expiration or termination of the Franchise Agreement, all Confidential Information and copyrighted material must be returned to Batteries Plus Bulbs. Franchisees are required to notify Batteries Plus Bulbs immediately if they become aware of any unauthorized use of the Confidential Information. However, Batteries Plus Bulbs is not obligated to take any action regarding such unauthorized use and retains the sole right to decide on the appropriate response.
Batteries Plus Bulbs and the franchisee jointly own store customer data, excluding key accounts customer data, located on the Retail Management System. Batteries Plus Bulbs will periodically establish policies governing the use of this store customer data by both parties. For key accounts customers, Batteries Plus Bulbs shares ownership of customer data with franchisees who service those specific customers. Franchisees must comply with all changes to the Operations Manual at their own cost.