Does Bigfoot Forestry claim a copyright to its marketing materials?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Y INFORMATION**
No patents or pending patent applications are material to the franchise.
Although we have not filed an application for copyright registration for our Manual, website or marketing materials, we do claim a copyright to these items.
During the term of the Franchise Agreement, we allow you to use certain confidential and proprietary information (some of which constitute "trade secrets") relating to the development, marketing and operation of a Bigfoot Forestry Business. Examples include:
- methods, techniques, policies, procedures, standards and specifications
- supplier lists, customer lists and information regarding suppliers and customers
- marketing and merchandising strategies
- information comprising the System
We will own all ideas, improvements, inventions, marketing materials and other concepts you develop relating to a Bigfoot Forestry Business. We will also own all operational and customer data relating to your Bigfoot Forestry Business. You must treat this data as confidential and proprietary. We license you the right to use this data during the term of your Franchise Agreement. You must comply with all applicable data protection laws and our data processing and data privacy policies in the Manual.
We provide access to our confidential information through the Manual, training programs and other periodic support and guidance. You may use this information solely for purposes of developing, marketing and operating your Business in compliance with the Franchise Agreement and Manual. All information in the Manual is confidential. You may not disclose our confidential information to anyone other than your employees, on a need-to-know basis, without our prior permission.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 31–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bigfoot Forestry FDD, while Bigfoot Forestry has not filed for copyright registration for its marketing materials, the company does claim a copyright to these items. Bigfoot Forestry allows franchisees to use certain confidential and proprietary information, including trade secrets, related to the development, marketing, and operation of their business. This includes methods, techniques, policies, procedures, standards, specifications, supplier lists, customer lists, and marketing and merchandising strategies.
Bigfoot Forestry retains ownership of all ideas, improvements, inventions, marketing materials, and other concepts developed relating to the Bigfoot Forestry Business, as well as all operational and customer data. Franchisees are granted a license to use this data during the term of the Franchise Agreement but must treat it as confidential and proprietary. Franchisees must also comply with all applicable data protection laws and the franchisor's data processing and privacy policies outlined in the manual.
Franchisees are obligated to notify Bigfoot Forestry promptly if they discover any unauthorized use of the company's proprietary information or copyrighted materials. While Bigfoot Forestry is not required to take action, they will respond as they deem appropriate. Franchisees cannot control any legal proceedings involving allegations of unauthorized use, and Bigfoot Forestry has no obligation to cover any expenses or damages incurred by the franchisee as a result of such proceedings.
Upon termination of the Franchise Agreement, franchisees must comply with Bigfoot Forestry's instructions to return, destroy, or transfer all copies of the Manual and Copyrighted Materials, including signs, brochures, advertising, and promotional materials. This ensures that all copyrighted materials are either returned to Bigfoot Forestry or destroyed, preventing any further unauthorized use after the franchise agreement ends.