Does Brightstar Care have the right to settle proceedings or litigation involving the Marks?
Brightstar_Care Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ically by Bright Star Nevada and us.
There are currently no effective determinations of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the trademark administrator of any state, or any court; no pending interference, opposition, or cancellation proceedings; and no pending material litigation involving the Marks. You must promptly notify us of any suspected unauthorized use of the Marks, any challenge to the validity of the Marks, or any challenge to our ownership of, our right to use and to license others to use, or
your right to use the Marks. We have the sole right to direct and control any administrative proceeding or litigation involving the Marks, including the right to settle the proceedings or litigation. We have the exclusive right, but not the obligation, to affirmatively prosecute actions against third parties for infringement or threatened infringement of the Marks.
We or our affiliates have the sole right to handle disputes with third parties regarding the Marks. You must immediately notify us in writing if you learn of any improper or infringing use of any Mark. We have the right to take any action we deem best, including to take no action, and the sole right to control any legal proceeding or negotiation resulting from any infringement, challenge, or claim or otherwise relating to the Marks. You may not settle or compromise any claim, suit, or demand asserted against you; you will be bound by our decisions in handling disputes regarding the Marks. You must fully cooperate with us and sign any documents and perform any actions we deem necessary, appropriate, or advisable to defend claims, suits, or demands and to protect and maintain our rights in the Marks. Unless it is established that a third-party claim asserted against you is based, directly or indirectly, on your misuse of the Marks, we will defend you at our cost against the third-party claim relating to the Marks, provided you have notified us immediately after learning of the claim and fully cooperate in the defense. Because we will defend the third-party claim relating to the Marks, you are not entitled to reimbursement for legal or other professional fees or costs paid to independent legal counsel or others in the matter. Despite our agreement to defend you, we are not liable to indemnify or reimburse you for any liability, costs, expenses, damages, or losses you sustain because of the third-party claim (unrelated to the costs of defense).
We are not aware of any superior prior rights or infringing uses that could materially affect your use of the Marks in any state;
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 75–77)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Brightstar Care's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Brightstar Care retains the sole right to direct and control any administrative proceeding or litigation involving the Marks, including the right to settle such proceedings or litigation. This means that as a franchisee, you do not have the authority to independently manage or resolve legal matters related to the Brightstar Care trademarks.
Brightstar Care also has the exclusive right, but not the obligation, to take action against third parties for infringement or threatened infringement of the Marks. Franchisees must promptly notify Brightstar Care of any suspected unauthorized use of the Marks, any challenge to the validity of the Marks, or any challenge to Brightstar Care's ownership or right to use the Marks. Franchisees are required to cooperate fully with Brightstar Care in any legal proceedings and must sign any documents and perform any actions deemed necessary to protect the Marks.
Furthermore, franchisees are prohibited from settling or compromising any claim, suit, or demand asserted against them and will be bound by Brightstar Care's decisions in handling disputes regarding the Marks. If a third-party claim is asserted against a franchisee and is not based on the franchisee's misuse of the Marks, Brightstar Care will defend the franchisee at its own cost, provided the franchisee has notified Brightstar Care immediately and fully cooperates in the defense. However, Brightstar Care is not liable to indemnify or reimburse the franchisee for any liability, costs, expenses, damages, or losses sustained because of the third-party claim, unrelated to the costs of defense.