Who owns the 'Buildingstars' trademarks and service marks?
Buildingstars Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Our affiliate, Buildingstars, Inc. owns the following principal trademarks and service marks on the Principal Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It has an agreement with BUILDINGSTARS which permits us to use the Marks and to sublicense the use of the Marks pursuant to a Franchise Agreement. In the event that the agreement between BUILDINGSTARS and its Parent terminate for any reason, its Parent will honor your rights to use the Marks under the terms and conditions of your Franchise Agreement. There are no agreements currently in effect which significantly limit the rights of BUILDINGSTARS to use or license the use of the Marks in any manner material.
| Mark | Registration Date | Registration Number |
|---|---|---|
| "BUILDINGSTARS" | March 13, 2001 | 2435791 |
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 27–28)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Buildingstars's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the principal trademarks and service marks are owned by Buildingstars, Inc., an affiliate of the franchisor. Buildingstars has an agreement with BUILDINGSTARS which permits them to use the Marks and to sublicense the use of the Marks pursuant to a Franchise Agreement. The trademark "BUILDINGSTARS" is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office under registration number 2435791, with a registration date of March 13, 2001.
This arrangement means that while franchisees operate under the "Buildingstars" name and marks, the legal ownership resides with Buildingstars, Inc. Buildingstars, however, has the right to sublicense these marks to its franchisees, allowing them to use the brand name and associated logos in their business operations. This is a common practice in franchising, where a separate entity often holds the intellectual property rights.
The FDD also states that even if the agreement between BUILDINGSTARS and its Parent terminate for any reason, its Parent will honor your rights to use the Marks under the terms and conditions of your Franchise Agreement. This provides some assurance to franchisees that their right to use the Buildingstars name will continue even if the relationship between Buildingstars and its parent company changes. Franchisees are obligated to follow Buildingstars's rules when using the marks and must notify Buildingstars immediately of any apparent infringement or challenge to the use of any mark.
Buildingstars retains sole discretion to take action regarding infringements and to control any related litigation. Franchisees are required to assist in protecting the marks. If Buildingstars decides to modify or discontinue the use of the marks, franchisees must comply at their own expense. This highlights the importance of adhering to Buildingstars's brand standards and protecting the trademarks, as any legal issues or modifications can impact a franchisee's business.