Can Bigfoot Forestry assign its purchase option to a designee of its choosing?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You agree to assign to us or our designee, without charge, all rights to any Improvement developed by you, including the right to grant sublicenses.
If applicable law precludes you from assigning ownership to us, then such Improvement shall be perpetually licensed by you to us free of charge, with full rights to use, commercialize and sublicense the same.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 42–162)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bigfoot Forestry's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, in the section detailing intellectual property and confidential information, the franchisee agrees to assign to Bigfoot Forestry or its designee, without charge, all rights to any improvement developed by the franchisee, including the right to grant sublicenses. This indicates that Bigfoot Forestry can designate another party to receive rights related to improvements made by the franchisee.
Additionally, regarding extraterritorial operations, if Bigfoot Forestry revokes approval for a franchisee to operate outside their territory, the franchisee must transfer to Bigfoot Forestry or its designee any projects involving job sites in the approved open territory. This clause further supports Bigfoot Forestry's ability to assign rights or assets to a designee.
Furthermore, the FDD states that the franchise agreement is fully assignable by Bigfoot Forestry without prior notice to the franchisee and shall benefit any assignee or legal successor. This broad statement suggests that Bigfoot Forestry has the right to assign its rights and obligations, including the purchase option, to another party. Therefore, based on these clauses, Bigfoot Forestry can assign its purchase option to a designee of its choosing.