Are there any pending infringements, oppositions, or cancellations concerning the principal trademarks of the C12 Group?
C12_Group Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ith unaffiliated business which may be transacted by a C12 franchisee.
There are no currently effective material determinations of the USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the trademark administrator of any state, or any court. Except as stated above, there are no pending infringements, oppositions, or cancellations concerning the principal trademarks. We have no knowledge of either superior rights or infringing uses that could materially affect your use of the principal trademarks in the state where your franchise may be located. There are no agreements currently in effect that significantly limit our rights to use or license the use of the principal trademarks in a manner material to the franchise. There is currently no pending litigation, settlement, or agreement that may limit a franchisee's use of any of our trademarks (FA Section I.5). The franchisor will control any litigation or proceeding which may ensue.
The franchisor must protect the franchisee's right to use the trademarks and must protect the franchisee against claims of infringement or unfair competition arising from the franchisee's use of them. WE agree to indemnify, defend, and hold you harmless in the event that your use of C12's trademarks in accordance with the Franchise Agreement infringes upon the intellectual property rights of a third party. You agree to notify C12 immediately when you learn of an infringement or challenge to your use of any of our trademarks (FA Section I.6).
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 32–34)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 C12 Group Franchise Disclosure Document, there are no currently effective material determinations of the USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the trademark administrator of any state, or any court. Except for ongoing opposition proceedings regarding two pending trademarks, there are no pending infringements, oppositions, or cancellations concerning the principal trademarks. The FDD states that C12 Group is currently working towards a settlement agreement that would allow for the registration of both marks. C12 Group also states that they have no knowledge of either superior rights or infringing uses that could materially affect a franchisee's use of the principal trademarks in the state where their franchise may be located.
It is important to note that C12 Group does not have a federal registration for the two pending trademarks. As a result, these trademarks do not have as many legal benefits and rights as a federally registered trademark. If the right to use the trademarks is challenged, a franchisee may have to change to alternative trademarks, which may increase their expenses.
Furthermore, there is currently no pending litigation, settlement, or agreement that may limit a franchisee's use of any of C12 Group's trademarks. C12 Group will control any litigation or proceeding which may ensue. The franchisee is obligated to notify C12 Group immediately if they learn of an infringement or challenge to their use of any of the trademarks.