Does Craters & Freighters have any pending patent applications that are material to the franchise?
Craters_Freighters Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
No patents are material to us at this time. We do not have any pending patent applications that are material to the franchise.
We own and have the right to inspect, copy and use all records with respect to the customers, suppliers, and other service providers of, and related in any way to your Franchised Business. This includes, without limitation, all databases (whether in print, electronic, or other form), including, among other things, all names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and customer purchase records. We may use or transfer the records in any way we wish, both before and after any termination, expiration, repurchase, transfer or otherwise. We may contact any or all of your customers, suppliers, and other service providers for quality control, market research, and such other purposes, as we deem appropriate, in our sole discretion.
You must disclose to us all ideas, techniques and products concerning the development and operation of the Franchised Business you, your manager or your employees conceive or develop during the term of the Franchise Agreement. You must grant to us and agree to obtain from your owners, manager or employees a perpetual, non-exclusive and worldwide right to use these ideas, techniques and products concerning the development and operation of the Franchised Business that you, your manager or your employees conceive or develop during the term of the Franchise Agreement in all Craters & Freighters Franchised Businesses that you operate. We will have no obligation to make any lump sum or on-going payments to you with respect to any idea, concept, method, technique or product. You must agree that you will not use nor will you allow any other person or entity to use any of these ideas, techniques or products without obtaining our prior written approval.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 34–35)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Craters & Freighters Franchise Disclosure Document, Craters & Freighters states that they do not have any pending patent applications that are material to the franchise. They also state that no patents are material to them at this time. This means that a Craters & Freighters franchisee will not be dependent on any pending patents to operate their franchise.
Craters & Freighters does claim ownership and the right to use all records related to the franchisee's customers, suppliers, and other service providers. This includes all databases in any form, containing names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and customer purchase records. Craters & Freighters can use or transfer these records as they wish, even after termination or transfer of the franchise, and may contact these parties for quality control or market research.
Furthermore, any ideas, techniques, or products developed by the franchisee or their employees during the franchise term related to the business's operation must be disclosed to Craters & Freighters. Craters & Freighters has the right to use these developments in all its franchised businesses without any obligation to provide payment to the franchisee. The franchisee is also prohibited from using these ideas without prior written approval from Craters & Freighters.