Who owns the Margaritaville Enterprises IP Rights related to Camp Margaritaville?
Camp_Margaritaville Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
WHEREAS, Licensor is the exclusive owner of the Margaritaville Enterprises IP Rights and is licensed by Jimmy Buffett to use and sublicense the Buffett IP Rights;
WHEREAS, Licensee desiresto have the right to sublicense the Margaritaville Intellectual Property pursuant to Trademark Sub-License Agreements and/or Franchise Agreements to developers and operators of Camp Margaritaville-branded RV resorts (each, a "Trademark Agreement"; and collectively, the "Trademark Agreements"); and
WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, Licensor is willing to grant to Licensee the right to use the Margaritaville Intellectual Property for the purpose of sublicensing such Margaritaville Intellectual Property, as set forth in the Trademark Agreements;
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 72–406)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Camp Margaritaville's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC is the exclusive owner of the Margaritaville Enterprises IP Rights. Additionally, Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC is licensed by Jimmy Buffett to use and sublicense the Buffett IP Rights. This ownership and licensing arrangement is established in a Trademark License Agreement between Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC, as the Licensor, and Margaritaville RV Resorts, LLC, as the Licensee, dated April 4, 2019. Margaritaville RV Resorts, LLC, as the Licensee, desires the right to sublicense the Margaritaville Intellectual Property through Trademark Sub-License Agreements and/or Franchise Agreements to developers and operators of Camp Margaritaville-branded RV resorts.
This agreement grants Margaritaville RV Resorts, LLC the right to use the Margaritaville Intellectual Property for the purpose of sublicensing it to Camp Margaritaville developers and operators, subject to the terms and conditions outlined in the Trademark Agreements. This means that while Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC retains ownership of the IP rights, Margaritaville RV Resorts, LLC is authorized to grant usage rights to individual Camp Margaritaville franchisees through sublicensing agreements.
For a prospective franchisee, this arrangement means that their right to use the Camp Margaritaville Intellectual Property is derived from the Franchise Agreement and is limited to the development and operation of their resort. The franchisee acknowledges that, as between them and the Franchisor, the Franchisor is the owner of all rights in the Camp Margaritaville Intellectual Property and the associated goodwill. Upon expiration or termination of the Franchise Agreement, all rights to use the Camp Margaritaville Intellectual Property automatically revert to the Franchisor without any cost or document execution. This underscores the importance of adhering to the terms of the Franchise Agreement to maintain the right to use the brand's intellectual property.