Does Cordova own any patents or copyrights material to the franchise system?
Cordova Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
[Item 14: PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION]
ITEM 14 PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
We do not own any rights to, or licenses in any patent or copyrights material to the franchise System. We may copyright advertising materials and design specifications, our Manuals and other written materials and items. We have not applied to the USPTO for the issuance of any patents.
You must keep as confidential our Manuals and any supplements to the Manuals. Our Manuals may take the form of written materials and/or digitally distributed and stored materials and made available to you for use in connection with the Franchised Business. The Manuals contain information about our System, Approved Services and Products, System Supplies, proprietary products, marketing systems, training, and confidential methods of operation. You must use all reasonable and prudent means to maintain the Manuals and the information maintained in the Manuals as confidential and prevent any unauthorized copies, recordings, reproduction, or distribution of the Manuals or the information contained in the Manuals. You must restrict access to the Manuals to management level employees who sign a confidentiality agreement with you and are required by you to maintain the confidentiality of the Manuals and refrain from distributing or disclosing the Manuals and the information contained in the Manuals. You must provide us with immediate notice if you learn of any unauthorized use of the Manuals or of the information contained in the Manuals, or any infringement or challenge to the proprietary or confidentiality of the information contained in the Manuals. We will take any and all action(s), or refrain from taking action, that we determine, in our discretion, to be appropriate. We may control any action or legal proceeding we choose to bring. We need not participate in your defense or indemnify you for damages or expenses in a proceeding involving a copyright or patent. If any third party establishes to our satisfaction, in our discretion, that it possesses rights superior to ours, then you must modify or discontinue your use of these materials in accordance with our written instructions.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 31–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cordova's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Cordova does not own any patents or copyrights that are material to the franchise system. However, Cordova may hold copyrights for advertising materials, design specifications, the operations manuals, and other written materials.
Cordova requires franchisees to maintain the confidentiality of the operations manuals, including any supplements. These manuals may be in written or digital format and contain information about the Cordova system, approved services and products, system supplies, proprietary products, marketing systems, training, and confidential methods of operation. Franchisees must take precautions to prevent unauthorized copies, recordings, reproduction, or distribution of the manuals or their contents.
Access to the manuals must be restricted to management-level employees who have signed a confidentiality agreement. Franchisees are obligated to notify Cordova immediately if they become aware of any unauthorized use of the manuals, any infringement, or challenges to the proprietary or confidential nature of the information within the manuals. Cordova retains the discretion to take or refrain from taking any action it deems appropriate and may control any legal proceedings. Cordova is not obligated to participate in a franchisee's defense or provide indemnity for damages or expenses in cases involving copyright or patent issues. If a third party demonstrates superior rights to Cordova's satisfaction, franchisees must modify or discontinue their use of the materials as instructed by Cordova.