What is the Bhc Master Franchisee required to do to ensure proper use of the Marks and Intellectual Property?
Bhc Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
or 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.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 52–230)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bhc's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a Master Franchisee is responsible for the proper use of Bhc's Marks and Intellectual Property. The Master Franchisee must supervise all employees and agents to ensure compliance with the franchise agreement. They are granted the right to use and display the Marks solely in connection with operating the Franchised Business at the Master Franchise Bhc Restaurant and within their designated territory. The Master Franchisee is prohibited from using any trademarks, trade names, service marks, or logos other than the Marks approved by Bhc. They also cannot use the Marks and Intellectual Property in any business or activity outside the scope of the Franchised Business, and any use on the Internet or electronic media must be specifically authorized by Bhc.
The Master Franchisee acknowledges that their use of the Marks and Intellectual Property is a temporary authorization under the agreement, and that the owner of the Marks retains all ownership interests and goodwill. The Master Franchisee cannot claim any rights to the goodwill, reputation, or ownership of the Marks. They also agree not to infringe upon or contest the validity of the Marks and Intellectual Property during or after the term of the franchise agreement. Bhc retains the right to use the name, image, and likeness of the Master Franchisee and its Principal Equity Operators for marketing and promotion purposes without compensation.
To maintain the integrity and reputation of the Bhc system, the Master Franchisee must ensure that they and their Subfranchisees comply with Bhc's prescribed methodology for providing BHC Products to customers. The Master Franchisee must identify the Franchised Business using a trade name containing the Mark "BHC" along with the words "INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED" in all advertising, promotions, and business dealings. They must also file and keep current a fictitious business name statement. The Master Franchisee cannot identify themselves as Bhc or any related entity, and if the Master Franchisee is an entity, it cannot use the Marks "BHC" in its legal name.
These stipulations are typical in franchising, as franchisors like Bhc need to protect their brand identity and ensure consistent quality across all franchise locations. A prospective franchisee should understand these requirements and be prepared to adhere to Bhc's standards in all aspects of their business operations. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in a breach of the franchise agreement and potential legal action.