What constitutes 'otherwise objectionable material' that an Epcon Communities franchisee is prohibited from posting on the Intranet?
Epcon_Communities Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
h) post, promote or transmit through the Epcon Communities Intranet any unlawful, harassing, libelous, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar, obscene, hateful, racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable material of any kind or nature, including, without limitation, any transmissions constituting or encouraging conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, or give rise to civil liability;
i) knowingly upload, copy, post, publish, transmit, reproduce, distribute or participate in the transfer or sale or transmit any files that contain viruses, corrupted files, or any other similar software or programs or any software in violation of copyright law, or the applicable software license agreement;
j) jeopardize the operation of computer systems owned by Epcon Communities or the reputation of Epcon Communities;
k) use any of the Web Site or any Databases for service bureau or other purposes not specified in this Agreement, the Epcon Communities Intranet policies or your franchise agreement;
l) advertise or offer to sell any goods or services, or engage in any surveys or contests; or
m) use the Epcon Communities Intranet to encourage, post or transmit "junk mail," "spam," hoaxes, chain letters, or advertisements and/or rude, obscene or harassing messages.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 86–280)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Epcon Communities' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are prohibited from posting certain types of material on the Epcon Communities Intranet. Specifically, franchisees cannot post, promote, or transmit any unlawful, harassing, libelous, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar, obscene, hateful, racially, or ethnically objectionable material. This broad prohibition aims to maintain a professional and respectful environment within the Epcon Communities network.
This restriction extends to any material that could encourage conduct that constitutes a criminal offense or gives rise to civil liability. This means franchisees must avoid posting content that violates any applicable local, state, national, or international law or regulation. The FDD specifically mentions U.S. Export Control laws and regulations as an example of laws that franchisees must adhere to.
In addition to the above, franchisees are also prohibited from posting content such as 'junk mail,' 'spam,' hoaxes, chain letters, advertisements, and/or rude, obscene, or harassing messages. Epcon Communities retains the right to investigate and take action against any actual or possible illegal or improper uses of the Intranet, including deleting information and revoking a franchisee's access. This underscores the importance of adhering to these guidelines to avoid potential penalties and maintain good standing within the Epcon Communities franchise system.