Does Beard Papas own any patents or copyrights material to the franchise system?
Beard_Papas Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
"Copyrights" refers to and means all works and materials for which we or any affiliate of ours has secured common law or registered copyright protection and we utilize and/or allow Beard Papa's Shop franchisees to use, sell or display in connection with the development, marketing and/or operation of a Beard Papa's Shop, whether as of the Effective Date or any time in the future.
"Intellectual Property" refers to and means, individually and collectively, our Licensed Marks, Copyrights, Know-How, and System.
"Know-How" refers to means our trade secrets and proprietary information relating to the development, establishment, marketing, promotion and/or operation of a Beard Papa's Shop including, but not limited to, methods, techniques, recipes, specifications, food preparation, procedures, policies, marketing strategies and information reflected in, included in, comprising and/or constituting a part of the System. Without limitation to the foregoing, Know-How shall further include information contained in the Operations Manual and the Confidential Information.
Under the terms of the Franchise Agreement, you will be granted a license to use the "Beard Papa's" trademark and those other marks that we designate. Our affiliate DAY TO LIFE CO., Ltd. is the owner of the Licensed Marks and has granted to us a license to use the Licensed Marks and to license our franchisees to use the Licensed Marks (the "License Agreement"). 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.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD page 42)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, Beard Papas defines "Copyrights" as all works and materials for which they or any affiliate has secured common law or registered copyright protection. These copyrights are utilized and/or allowed for Beard Papa's Shop franchisees to use, sell, or display in connection with the development, marketing, and/or operation of a Beard Papa's Shop. This applies whether the copyright exists as of the Franchise Agreement's Effective Date or at any time in the future.
Beard Papas' franchise system also relies on what they define as "Intellectual Property" which includes Licensed Marks, Copyrights, Know-How, and the System itself. "Know-How" is defined as trade secrets and proprietary information related to the development, establishment, marketing, promotion, and/or operation of a Beard Papa's Shop. This includes methods, techniques, recipes, specifications, food preparation, procedures, policies, marketing strategies, and information within the Operations Manual and Confidential Information.
The FDD also states that the Beard Papa's franchise system uses the Beard Papa's trademark, logo, and other trademarks, service marks, logotypes, and commercial symbols. These marks may or may not be registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Franchisees are granted a license to use the "Beard Papa's" trademark and other designated marks, but these marks can only be used as authorized in writing and under the terms of the Franchise Agreement. The franchisee cannot use the Licensed Marks in the name of any Corporate Entity that they establish.
In summary, while the FDD mentions copyrights and trademarks as part of the Beard Papa's franchise system's intellectual property, it does not explicitly state whether Beard Papas owns any patents. A prospective franchisee should seek clarification from Beard Papas regarding patent ownership and any associated implications for franchisees.