Does Counselor Realty own the copyright in the entire Franchise Policy Guidelines?
Counselor_Realty Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
es. Although Counselor has not applied for federal copyright registration of the Franchise Policy Guidelines or its individual components, the information in the entire Franchise Policy Guidelines is proprietary and Counselor owns the copyright in the entire Franchise Policy Guidelines, and in various advertising and sales promotion materials, and customer convenience and other materials, used in connection with your Office.
15. OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE FRANCHISE BUSINESS
You or a Business manager you hire is required to participate personally in the day-to-day operations of the Business.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD page 24)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Counselor Realty's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Counselor Realty owns the copyright to the entire Franchise Policy Guidelines. While Counselor Realty has not applied for federal copyright registration of the Franchise Policy Guidelines or its individual components, the information within the guidelines is considered proprietary.
As a Counselor Realty franchisee, you are permitted to use the proprietary information within the Franchise Policy Guidelines. However, Counselor Realty does not grant you the right to use any item covered by a patent or copyright.
This means that while you can utilize the information in the Franchise Policy Guidelines to operate your Counselor Realty franchise, you must adhere to the usage terms set forth by Counselor Realty. You cannot reproduce or distribute the guidelines themselves, or any copyrighted material contained within, without explicit permission.