What kind of agreement might a Bigfoot Forestry franchisee have to sign regarding proprietary technology?
Bigfoot_Forestry Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
nd Costs. You are responsible for all fees, costs and expenses associated with acquiring, licensing, utilizing, updating and upgrading Technology Systems. Certain Technology Systems must be purchased or licensed from third-party suppliers. We and/or our affiliate may develop proprietary Technology Systems (or components thereof) that become part of our System. If this occurs, you agree to: (i) pay us (or our affiliate) commercially reasonable licensing, support and maintenance fees; and (ii) upon request, sign our prescribed form of license agreement governing use of proprietary Technology Systems (or components thereof). We may enter into master agreements with licensors of Third-Party Technology and charge you for amounts we pay them based on your use of their Third-Party Technology. We may charge you a technology fee, which includes all amounts you pay us and our affiliates relating to Technology Systems, including amounts paid for proprietary items and amounts we collect from you and remit to suppliers of Third-Party Technology. The technology fee may change based on changes to Technology Systems or prices charged by third parties with whom we enter into master agreements. The technology fee may include a reasonable administrative fee for the time, money and resources we invest to administer the technology platform and associated components, negotiate and manage contracts with third-party licensors, and collect and remit technology fees owed to third-party licensors on behalf of franchisees under master license arrangements.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPT (FDD pages 42–162)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Bigfoot Forestry FDD, if Bigfoot Forestry or its affiliate develops proprietary technology systems that become part of their system, franchisees may have to sign a license agreement. This agreement would govern the use of these proprietary technology systems or their components.
In addition to a license agreement, franchisees may also have to pay commercially reasonable licensing, support, and maintenance fees to Bigfoot Forestry or its affiliate for the use of these proprietary technology systems. These fees, along with other technology-related expenses, may be included in a technology fee charged by Bigfoot Forestry. This technology fee can change based on modifications to the technology systems or the prices charged by third parties with whom Bigfoot Forestry has master agreements.
Furthermore, Bigfoot Forestry will provide franchisees with a certain number of Bigfoot Forestry email addresses at no additional charge, but franchisees must exclusively use these email addresses for all communications related to their business. The franchisee is responsible for all costs associated with acquiring, licensing, utilizing, updating, and upgrading the technology systems. Some technology systems may need to be purchased or licensed from third-party suppliers, and Bigfoot Forestry may charge franchisees for amounts they pay to these licensors based on the franchisee's use of the third-party technology.