Who owns the Licensed Marks for Cordova franchises?
Cordova Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Under the terms of the Franchise Agreement, you will be granted a license to use the "Cordova" trademark and those other marks identified in the table below in connection with the operations of the Franchised Business. Our affiliate Cordova IP, LLC is the owner of the Licensed Marks and has granted to us a license with an initial 20 year term and with automatic renewal thereafter to use the Licensed Marks and to license our franchisees to use the Licensed Marks (the "License Agreement"). Although the License Agreement may be terminated as a result of a breach of the License Agreement, in the event of any termination of the License Agreement, our franchisees will continue to maintain the right to use the Marks pursuant to the terms of their Franchise Agreement. Termination of the License Agreement does not terminate use of the Marks by our authorized franchisees. We reserve the right to supplement and modify the marks that you may or may not use in connection with the operations of your Cordova Business. You may only use the Licensed Marks as authorized by us in writing and under the terms of your Franchise Agreement. You may not use the Licensed Marks in the name of any Corporate Entity that you establish.
Principal Trademarks Not Registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office
The following principal trademarks identified in the schedule below are a part of the Licensed Marks, our System, and will be used by you in the operations of the Franchised Business but are not registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO"). As to each of these principal trademarks:
We do not have a federal registration for each of these principal trademarks. Therefore, the trademarks identified below do not have many legal benefits and rights that are afforded to federally registered trademarks. If our right to
use the trademarks (identified below) is challenged, you may have to change to an alternative trademark, which may increase your expenses.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 30–31)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cordova's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the owner of the Licensed Marks is Cordova IP, LLC, which is an affiliate of Cordova. Cordova IP, LLC has granted Cordova a license to use these marks for an initial term of 20 years, with automatic renewal thereafter. This license allows Cordova to then license its franchisees to use the Licensed Marks in connection with operating their franchised businesses.
Even if the License Agreement between Cordova IP, LLC and Cordova is terminated due to a breach, Cordova franchisees will retain the right to use the marks as outlined in their Franchise Agreement. Cordova retains the right to modify the marks used in the operation of a Cordova Business. Franchisees are only allowed to use the Licensed Marks as authorized in writing by Cordova and under the terms of the Franchise Agreement; they cannot use the Licensed Marks in the name of any corporate entity they establish.
Cordova does not have a federal registration for all of its principal trademarks. Therefore, these trademarks do not have all of the legal benefits afforded to federally registered trademarks. If Cordova's right to use these trademarks is challenged, franchisees may have to switch to an alternative trademark, which may increase their expenses.