factual

Who owns the Digital Media related to the Dryer Vent Squad franchise system?

Dryer_Vent_Squad Franchise · 2024 FDD

Answer from 2024 FDD Document

obligations under the Brand Development Fund and/or, if applicable, Advertising Cooperative. Under no circumstance shall Franchisor be under any obligation to grant any waiver of deferral. Franchisor may reject Franchisee's request for a

waiver or deferral based on any reason or no reason at all and, nevertheless grant the request of another system franchisee.

9.F. DIGITAL MEDIA AND WEBSITE PROHIBITIONS

Franchisee's use of Digital Media shall be subject to and require Franchisor's express written consent which shall and may be withheld by Franchisor for any or no reason at all. Without limitation to the foregoing, Franchisee possess no right or authority to utilize Digital Media and Franchisee agrees that Franchisor reserves all rights respecting the marketing, sale and distribution of Approved Services and Products through Digital Media. Franchisee agrees that all Digital Media and Digital Media accounts associated with and/or relating to the Franchised Business and/or the System shall, upon demand of Franchisor, be transferred to Franchisor. Upon execution of this Agreement and any and all future dates demanded by Franchisor, Franchisee shall execute and deliver to Franchisor the Assignment of Telephone Numbers and Digital Media Accounts agreement attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 4. The foregoing shall not be interpreted or construed as permitting Franchisee to establish, designate, utilize and/or otherwise establish accounts as to Digital Media respecting and/or concerning the Franchised Business and/or the System.

9.G. NO MARKETING OUTSIDE FRANCHISEE OPERATING TERRITORY

Franchisee agrees that Franchisee's marketing and Marketing Media must be directed toward Franchisee's Operating Territory and that Franchisee shall not cause, authorize or engage in any Media Distribution to customers, potential customers and/or customer referral sources outside of Franchisee's Operating Territory, unless: (a) such Media Distribution is a joint distribution with other Dryer Vent Squad Businesses and is authorized by Franchisor in writing; and (b) Franchisor, in Franchisor's Reasonable Business Judgment, otherwise agrees to same in writing.

ARTICLE 10 RELATIONSHIP OF THE PARTIES AND INDEMNIFICATION

10.A. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS

This Agreement does not create a fiduciary relationship between Franchisor and Franchise, Franchisor and Franchisee are independent contractors, and nothing in this Agreement is intended to make either party a general or special agent, legal representative, subsidiary, joint venturer, partner, employee or servant of the other for any purpose. The parties' relationship is strictly a franchisor and franchise relationship. Franchisee is the sole employer of the employees of the Franchised Business. Franchisee has the sole right to select, hire and discharge Franchisee's employees. Franchisee is responsible for all decisions regarding hiring, firing, training, supervising, disciplining, scheduling and paying wages to, and withholding and paying taxes for Franchisee's employees.

Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 51–207)

What This Means (2024 FDD)

According to the 2024 Dryer Vent Squad FDD, the franchisor maintains control and ownership of the Digital Media associated with the franchise system. The FDD defines "Digital Media" broadly to include websites, social media platforms (like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube), and online directories that relate to Dryer Vent Squad Businesses.

Dryer Vent Squad franchisees are required to obtain the franchisor's express written consent to use any Digital Media, and this consent can be withheld for any reason. The franchisee has no right to utilize Digital Media without this consent, and Dryer Vent Squad reserves all rights regarding marketing, sales, and distribution through Digital Media.

Upon the franchisor's demand, franchisees must transfer all Digital Media and associated accounts to Dryer Vent Squad. This includes executing an Assignment of Telephone Numbers and Digital Media Accounts agreement. This agreement ensures that upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, all Digital Media assets revert to the franchisor's control. This arrangement is intended to allow third parties to rely on the assignment to facilitate the transfer of accounts and media to the franchisor. The franchise agreement takes precedence over the assignment in case of any conflict.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.