What copyrights does Byrider Franchising Partners claim in manuals?
Byrider Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Byrider Franchising Partners claims copyrights in 5 manuals, which rights were assigned from Byrider Franchising in September 2024: Sales Operations (TXu 1-714-594), CNAC Operations (TXu 1-715-293), J.D. Byrider/CNAC Reports (TXu 1-714-652), Service Operations (TXu 1-714-673), and J.D. Byrider/CNAC Accounting Operations (TXu 1-715-294), all granted on December 16, 2010 (the "Manuals"). In addition, Byrider Franchising Partners claims copyrights in two computer programs: Discover (TX6-082-231) granted on November 8, 2004; and Discover v.2 (TXu 1-719-153) granted on March 8, 2011.
The Manuals and other materials Byrider Franchising Partners possesses contain Byrider Franchising Partners' confidential information. This information includes methods, formats, specifications, standards, systems, procedures, sales and marketing techniques and knowledge of and experience used to develop and operate Byrider Businesses as well as particular methods of processing and tracking financial information about Byrider Franchising Partners customers. The unique formula Byrider Franchising Partners uses for credit approval of Byrider Franchising Partners customers is confidential information. You may not use Byrider Franchising Partners' confidential information in an unauthorized manner either during or after the term of the Franchise Agreement and must take reasonable steps to prevent its disclosure to others. For example, you may not duplicate any part of the Operating Manual, remove the manual at your Business location or fail to return it to Byrider Franchising Partners when the franchise term is over.
Source: Item 14 — (FDD pages 54–55)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Byrider's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Byrider Franchising Partners asserts copyrights on five manuals. These rights were acquired from Byrider Franchising in September 2024. The specific manuals include: Sales Operations (TXu 1-714-594), CNAC Operations (TXu 1-715-293), J.D. Byrider/CNAC Reports (TXu 1-714-652), Service Operations (TXu 1-714-673), and J.D. Byrider/CNAC Accounting Operations (TXu 1-715-294). All of these copyrights were granted on December 16, 2010.
These manuals contain confidential information crucial for operating a Byrider franchise. This information encompasses methods, formats, specifications, standards, systems, procedures, sales and marketing techniques, and knowledge related to developing and operating Byrider businesses. It also includes specific methods for processing and tracking financial information about Byrider customers. The credit approval formula used by Byrider is also considered confidential.
As a franchisee, you are prohibited from using Byrider's confidential information in any unauthorized manner during or after the franchise term. You must also take reasonable steps to prevent the disclosure of this information to others. This includes restrictions on duplicating any part of the operating manual, removing the manual from the business location, or failing to return it to Byrider Franchising Partners when the franchise term ends. This underscores the importance of maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of Byrider's proprietary information to protect its competitive advantage and the overall franchise system.