Who owns the rights, title, and interests in the SpeedLine software used by Beggars Pizza?
Beggars_Pizza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
OWNERSHIP: The Software is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. SpeedLine owns and will at all times retain exclusive ownership of all rights, title, and interests, including copyrights and all other intellectual property rights, in and to the Software, the Documentation, and any copies of the Software or Documentation. The Customer acquires only the right to use the Software for the term of this Agreement and does not acquire any rights of ownership in the Software. The Software is licensed, not sold.
COPIES: The Customer may make one (1) copy of the Installed Software for backup purposes. No other copies shall be made in any form or medium without prior written consent from the President of SpeedLine or other authorized personnel at SpeedLine designated by the President as having such authority ("authorized personnel"). You may not copy the Documentation accompanying the Software in any form or medium.
PERMITTED USES, RESTRICTED USES: The Customer may only use the Software for the intended purpose of a retail point-of-sale solution and related
solutions and as permitted by this Agreement. The Customer may not copy (except as provided in the "Copies" section above), reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, decrypt, modify, adapt, or translate the Software in any way, or merge the Software into any other computer program material, or re-write
the Software into any different computer program language. Use of the Software to test or improve a competing software package without prior written approval from authorized personnel at SpeedLine is a violation of this Agreement. The Customer may not (a) sell, rent, lease, license, transfer, lend or give away the Software; or (b) "frame" or "mirror" the Online Services.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 39–192)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Beggars Pizza's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, SpeedLine owns and retains exclusive ownership of all rights, title, and interests, including copyrights and all other intellectual property rights, in and to the SpeedLine Software, its Documentation, and any copies of the Software or Documentation.
This means that while Beggars Pizza franchisees are granted a license to use the SpeedLine Software, they do not acquire any ownership rights. The software is licensed, not sold, and franchisees only have the right to use it for the term of their agreement with SpeedLine. This is a common arrangement in franchising, where franchisors often utilize proprietary software systems to maintain consistency and control across their franchise network.
Beggars Pizza franchisees are permitted to make one copy of the installed software for backup purposes. However, they are restricted from making any other copies without prior written consent from authorized personnel at SpeedLine. Additionally, franchisees are prohibited from reverse engineering, decompiling, disassembling, modifying, or adapting the software in any way. They also cannot sell, rent, lease, license, transfer, lend, or give away the software. These restrictions are in place to protect SpeedLine's intellectual property and prevent unauthorized use or distribution of the software.