What is a Bhc franchisee obligated to do regarding the use of the Marks?
Bhc Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
motional programs or policies for BHC Restaurants generally. Franchisor does not currently require Master Franchisees to participate in a local or regional advertising cooperative. No local or regional advertising cooperative exists in Franchisor's system at this time.
9. PROPRIETARY MARKS
9.1 License of the Marks.
(a) Franchisor hereby grants Master Franchisee the right during the term hereof to use and display the Marks in accordance with the provisions contained in this Agreement and in the Operations Manual, solely in connection with Master Franchisee's operation of the Franchised Business at the Master Franchise BHC Restaurant, and in the Territory. Neither Master Franchisee nor any Principal Equity Operator nor any employee, agent, or representative thereof may use, display, or permit the use or display of trademarks, trade names, service marks, insignias, or logo types other than the Marks and other trademarks and service marks approved for use by Franchisor in connection with the Franchised Business.
Neither Master Franchisee nor any Principal Equity Operator nor any employee, agent, or representative thereof may use or display the Marks and Intellectual Property in connection with the operation of any business or other activity that is outside the scope of the Franchised Business. Master Franchisee may only use the Marks and Intellectual Property on the Internet or other electronic media in the manner and as specifically authorized by Franchisor in the Operations Manual or otherwise in writing. Master Franchisee agrees to be responsible for and supervise all its employees and agents to insure the proper use of the Marks and Intellectual Property in compliance with this Agreement.
- (b) Master Franchisee acknowledges and agrees (i) Master Franchisee's use of the Marks and Intellectual Property is a temporary authorized use under this Agreement, (ii) the Owner of the Marks retains all ownership interests in the Marks, and (iii) Franchisor and the Owner of the Marks retain all ownership of the goodwill generated by the Marks. Master Franchisee acknowledges that the use of the Marks outside the scope of the terms of this Agreement without Franchisor's written consent is an infringement of the Owner of the Marks' and Franchisor's exclusive right, title, and interest in and to the Marks and Intellectual Property. Master Franchisee agrees that as between Master Franchisee and Franchisor, all rights to use the Marks and Intellectual Property within the franchised System are Franchisor's exclusive property. Master Franchisee now asserts no claim and will hereafter assert no claim to any goodwill, reputation, or ownership thereof because of Master Franchisee's use thereof or otherwise. It is expressly understood and agreed that ownership and title of the Trade Dress, Operations Manual and Franchisor's other manuals, bulletins, instruction sheets, forms, methods of operation and goodwill are and, as between Master Franchisee and Franchisor, remain vested solely in Franchisor, and the use thereof is only co-extensive with the term of this Agreement.
- (c) Master Franchisee agrees that during the term of the Franchise, and after any assignment, expiration or termination of the Franchise, Master Franchisee will not, directly or indirectly, commit an act of infringement or contest or aid others in contesting the validity, distinctiveness, secondary meaning, ownership or enforceability of the Marks or Intellectual Property, or take any other action in derogation of the Marks or Intellectual Property, and that no monetary amount will be assigned as attributable to any goodwill associated with Master Franchisee's use of the System, the Marks or Intellectual Property.
- (d) Master Franchisee hereby grants Franchisor the right at any time to use the name, image and likeness of Master Franchisee and all Principal Equity Operators for commercial purposes in connection with the marketing and promotion of the Marks, Franchisor's Intellectual Property, BHC Products, any BHC business location and the System, without any form of compensation or remuneration. Master Franchisee also agrees (i) to have any affected employee of Master Franchisee who is not a Principal Equity Operator sign a release in the form contained in the Operations Manual authorizing Franchisor to also use the employee's name, image and likeness for the purposes described in this section 9.1(d), without compensation or remuneration, and (ii) to provide Franchisor with a copy of such signed release. The terms of this section 9.1(d) survive termination or expiration of this Agreement.
- (e) Master Franchisee acknowledges that Franchisor prescribes uniform standards respecting the nature and quality of BHC Products provided by Master Franchisee in connection with which the Marks are used. Nothing herein gives Master Franchisee any right, title, or interest in or to any of the Marks, except a mere privilege and license during the term hereof to display and use the same and Master Franchisee agrees that all of Master Franchisee's use of the Marks under this Agreement inures to Franchisor's benefit and the benefit of the Owner of the Marks.
- (f) Master Franchisee agrees that all materials associated with Franchisor, BHC Products, Ancillary Products, or other services, artwork, graphics, layouts, slogans, names, titles, text or similar materials incorporating, or being used in connection with, the Marks which may be created by Master Franchisee, Master Franchisee's employees, agents and subcontractors and any other party with whom
Master Franchisee may contract to have such materials produced pursuant to this Agreement will become the sole property of the Owner of the Marks, including copyright and trademark rights. In furtherance thereof, Master Franchisee hereby and irrevocably assigns to Franchisor all such materials, artwork, graphics, layouts, slogans, names, titles, text, or similar materials, whether presently or hereafter existing ("Works"). Furthermore, Master Franchisee agrees on behalf of itself, its employees, its agents, its subcontractors, and any other party with whom Master Franchisee may contract to have such materials produced, to promptly execute any and all appropriate documents in this regard. Master Franchisee acknowledges and agrees that as between Master Franchisee and Franchisor, all Works (and all Intellectual Property Rights in and to the Works) are owned exclusively by Franchisor, except as otherwise set forth herein. The Works will not entitle Master Franchisee to any Intellectual Property Rights in and to the System and the System will not become a joint work of authorship as a result of the Works under any circumstances. The Works will be considered as a "work for hire" (as defined under the United States Copyright Act), and such Works will be owned by and for the benefit of Franchisor. To the extent that any such Works may not constitute a work for hire, Master Franchisee hereby grants, assigns, and transfers all right, title and interest in and to such Works, including all rights in and to the Intellectual Property therein, without compensation, to Franchisor and agrees to execute any and all further documents and things reasonably required by Franchisor to effect and record such assignment. If Master Franchisee has any such rights that cannot be assigned to Franchisor, Master Franchisee waives the enforcement of such rights, and if Master Franchisee has any rights which cannot be assigned or waived, Master Franchisee hereby grants to Franchisor an exclusive, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide, fully paid license (with right to sublicense through multiple tiers) to such rights. Master Franchisee acknowledges there are, and may be, future rights that Master Franchisee may otherwise become entitled to with respect to the Suggestions not yet existing, as well as new uses, media, means and forms of exploitation throughout the universe exploiting current or future technology yet to be developed, and Master Franchisee specifically intends the foregoing assignment of rights to Franchisor will include all such now known or unknown uses, media, and forms of exploitation throughout the universe.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 52–230)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bhc's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees have several obligations regarding the use of Bhc's proprietary marks. Bhc grants the franchisee the right to use and display the marks during the term of the agreement, but only in accordance with the agreement's provisions and the operations manual, specifically for the operation of the franchised business. Franchisees cannot use any other trademarks or service marks unless approved by Bhc. Franchisees must also ensure their employees properly use the marks and intellectual property according to the franchise agreement.
Franchisees must identify their franchised business using a trade name that includes "BHC" along with the words "INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED" in all advertising, promotions, signs, letterheads, and business dealings. Franchisees are required to file and maintain a fictitious business name statement or assumed name certificate for their business name. They also cannot represent themselves as Bhc itself, or as a subsidiary, parent, division, shareholder, partner, joint venture, agent, or employee of Bhc. If the franchisee is a business entity, it cannot include "BHC" in its legal name.
Upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, franchisees must immediately stop using or displaying the marks in any way. They cannot operate under the Bhc brand or any name that might suggest an association with Bhc. This includes actions like repainting the business premises and removing distinctive trade dress elements. Franchisees must also contact online review sites and directories to remove any references to the trademarks in connection with their former Bhc restaurant and any old reviews from when they were a franchisee. All materials associated with Bhc become the sole property of the owner of the marks, including any created by the franchisee.
During and after the franchise term, franchisees cannot infringe upon or contest the validity of the marks or intellectual property. Bhc has the right to use the franchisee's name, image, and likeness for marketing and promotion purposes without compensation. Franchisees must also ensure their employees sign a release authorizing Bhc to use their name, image, and likeness for promotional purposes. Bhc also prescribes uniform standards for the quality of Bhc products in connection with which the marks are used.