Does Degree Wellness have any pending patent applications that are material to the franchise?
Degree_Wellness Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
[Item 14: Patents, Copyrights, and Proprietary Information]
Item 14
PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
Except as provided in this item, you do not receive the right to use an item covered by a registered patent or copyright, but you can use the proprietary information in our Operations Manual. See Item 11 for additional information about our Operations Manual. We do not own any rights in or licenses to any patents or have any pending patent applications that are material to the franchise. Although we have not filed an application for copyright registration of our Operations Manual or other copyrighted or copyrightable materials and items, we claim copyright protection in them, and they are proprietary. We do not have any obligation to take action for unauthorized uses of the information in our Operations Manual or other copyrighted item, but we intend to do so in circumstances we deem appropriate. We do not have to indemnify you for losses brought by a third party concerning your use of this information, but intend to do so under circumstances we deem appropriate. Unless otherwise provided in this Item 14, we are not aware of any other material infringing uses of this information. There are no agreements in effect affecting or limiting our right to use this information. There are no material determinations of, or proceedings in, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or a court concerning any patent or copyright owned by us.
Source: Item 14 — Patents, Copyrights, and Proprietary Information (FDD pages 47–48)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Degree Wellness's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Degree Wellness does not own any rights or licenses to any patents, nor does it have any pending patent applications that are material to the franchise. However, Degree Wellness claims copyright protection on its Operations Manual and other copyrighted materials, even though they have not filed for copyright registration. Degree Wellness states that while they are not obligated to take action against unauthorized use of their Operations Manual or other copyrighted items, they intend to do so when they deem it appropriate.
Degree Wellness does not have to indemnify franchisees for losses brought by a third party concerning the use of this information, but intends to do so under circumstances they deem appropriate. The FDD states that Degree Wellness is not aware of any other material infringing uses of this information, and there are no agreements in effect affecting or limiting their right to use this information. Additionally, there are no material determinations of, or proceedings in, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office, or a court concerning any patent or copyright owned by Degree Wellness.
This means that franchisees are not receiving the right to use an item covered by a registered patent or copyright, but they can use the proprietary information in Degree Wellness's Operations Manual. While Degree Wellness intends to protect its copyrighted materials, franchisees should be aware that they may not be indemnified for losses related to the use of this information.