Who should a Crepe De Licious franchisee communicate with regarding any infringement, challenge, or claim?
Crepe_De_Licious Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must not directly or indirectly contest our rights to our Copyrighted Works, Confidential Information, or Trade Secrets. You may not communicate with anyone except us, our counsel, or our designees regarding any infringement, challenge, or claim. We will take action as we deem appropriate regarding any infringement, challenge, or claim, and the sole right to control exclusively any litigation or other proceeding arising out of any infringement, challenge, or claim under any Copyrighted Works, Confidential Information, or Trade Secrets. You must sign any and all instruments and documents, give the assistance, and do acts and things that may, in the opinion of our counsel, be necessary to protect and maintain our interests in any litigation or proceeding or to protect and maintain our interests in the Copyrighted Works, Confidential Information, or Trade Secrets.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 45–46)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Crepe De Licious's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee must only communicate with Crepe De Licious, its counsel, or its designees regarding any infringement, challenge, or claim related to the company's copyrighted works, confidential information, or trade secrets. The franchisee is explicitly prohibited from communicating with anyone else about these matters.
This requirement ensures that Crepe De Licious maintains control over its intellectual property and any legal proceedings related to it. The FDD states that Crepe De Licious will take action as it deems appropriate regarding any infringement, challenge, or claim, and has the sole right to control any litigation or other proceeding arising from such issues. Franchisees are obligated to sign documents and provide assistance as needed to protect Crepe De Licious's interests.
This is a fairly standard clause in franchise agreements, as franchisors need to protect their brand and intellectual property. By centralizing communication and control, Crepe De Licious aims to ensure consistent and effective management of any legal issues related to its copyrighted works, confidential information, or trade secrets. Franchisees should be aware of this restriction and adhere to it to avoid violating the franchise agreement.