What is Dryer Vent Squad's obligation to protect a franchisee's right to use the Licensed Marks?
Dryer_Vent_Squad Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
easonable out-of-pocket administrative expenses that you incur and pay in complying with our written instructions.
We will protect your right to use the Licensed Marks and other related rights and protect you against claims of infringement and unfair competition related to the Licensed Marks, provided that you use the Licensed Marks in accordance with the terms of your Franchise Agreement, as designated by us in the Manuals, and otherwise, as we instruct you. We will indemnify you against direct damages for trademark infringement in a proceeding arising out of your use of the Licensed Marks, provided your use of the Licensed Marks comply with the terms of your Franchise Agreement, the Manuals, our written instructions, and that you have timely notified us of the claim, have given us sole control of the defense and settlement of the claim, and you are in compliance with your Franchise Agreement. If we defend the claim, we have no obligation to indemnify or reimburse you with respect to any fees or disbursements of any attorney that you retain.
If any third party establishes, to our satisfaction and in our sole discretion, that its rights to the marks are, for any legal reason, superior to any of our rights, then we will modify and/or replace the Licensed Marks and you must use the variances or other service marks, trademarks or trade names required by and as determined by us. Our sole liability and obligation in such event is to reimburse you for the direct out-of-pocket costs of complying with this obligation, which you must document to our satisfaction, including, by way of example, alterations in signage and replacement of marketing materials. There are no agreements currently in effect that significantly limit our rights to use or license the use of the Licensed Marks in any manner material to you.
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.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 38–39)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Dryer Vent Squad Franchise Disclosure Document, Dryer Vent Squad will protect a franchisee's right to use the Licensed Marks and other related rights, as well as protect them against claims of infringement and unfair competition related to the Licensed Marks. This protection is contingent upon the franchisee using the Licensed Marks in accordance with the terms of the Franchise Agreement, as designated in the Manuals, and as instructed by Dryer Vent Squad.
Dryer Vent Squad will indemnify the franchisee against direct damages for trademark infringement in a proceeding arising out of the franchisee's use of the Licensed Marks. This indemnification is conditional on the franchisee's use of the Licensed Marks complying with the terms of the Franchise Agreement, the Manuals, and Dryer Vent Squad's written instructions. Additionally, the franchisee must provide timely notification of the claim and give Dryer Vent Squad sole control of the defense and settlement of the claim, and the franchisee must be in compliance with the Franchise Agreement.
However, if a third party establishes rights to the marks that are superior to Dryer Vent Squad's rights, Dryer Vent Squad will modify or replace the Licensed Marks. In such a case, the franchisee must use the revised marks as determined by Dryer Vent Squad. Dryer Vent Squad's sole obligation in this event is to reimburse the franchisee for the direct out-of-pocket costs of complying with this obligation, such as alterations in signage and replacement of marketing materials, provided that the franchisee documents these costs to Dryer Vent Squad's satisfaction. Dryer Vent Squad also requires franchisees to provide written notice of any claims regarding the Licensed Marks or any confusingly similar trademarks. Dryer Vent Squad maintains the exclusive right to control any litigation, legal proceedings, administrative proceedings, and/or settlements related to the Licensed Marks.