What items does Bumper Man claim copyright protection for?
Bumper_Man Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We do not own any registered copyrights and do not have any pending copyright application that is material to the franchise. However, we claim copyright protection for our Manual, for promotional literature related to our franchise program, and for the Bumper Man URL and all social media and mobile application sites and platforms. See Item 11, Confidential Manual.
We also claim copyright protection in the Bumper Man invoicing software installed on the iPad Mini we loan to you for the operation of your Bumper Business, which is our proprietary software. See Item 11, Technology.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 31–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bumper Man's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, while the company does not own any registered copyrights or have any pending copyright applications that are material to the franchise, it does claim copyright protection for specific items. These include the Bumper Man Manual, promotional literature related to the franchise program, and the Bumper Man URL along with all social media and mobile application sites and platforms. Additionally, Bumper Man asserts copyright protection for the Bumper Man invoicing software installed on the iPad Mini that is loaned to franchisees for operating their Bumper Business, clarifying that this software is proprietary to Bumper Man.
For a prospective franchisee, this means that while you are granted the right to use these copyrighted materials as part of your franchise operation, you do not own them. You are bound by the copyright restrictions and cannot reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from these materials without Bumper Man's explicit permission. This is a standard practice in franchising, where the franchisor retains ownership of key brand assets and operational tools.
The FDD also states that franchisees do not receive the right to use any item covered by a patent, and there are no pending patent applications that are material to the franchise. This clarifies that the franchise agreement primarily deals with copyrighted materials and proprietary information rather than patented inventions. Franchisees should be aware of these distinctions and ensure they understand the scope of their rights and responsibilities regarding intellectual property.
It is important for potential franchisees to review Item 11, Confidential Manual, and Item 11, Technology, in the FDD for more details on the specific content and usage guidelines related to the copyrighted materials and proprietary software. Understanding these details will help franchisees avoid any unintentional infringement and ensure compliance with the franchise agreement.