What is the duration of the copyright registrations related to the Epcon Communities franchise?
Epcon_Communities Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You will be granted a limited, non-exclusive license to use the information that is the subject of certain copyright registrations, as designated by us for use in the development and construction of your project(s) in accordance with the terms of your Franchise Agreement. The copyright registrations are owned by IP86 and are licensed to us. A list of these copyright registrations is attached to this disclosure document as Exhibit Q. A disclosure regarding the terms of the sublicense agreement between us and IP86, LLC appears in Item 13.
All of the copyright registrations have a duration of 70 years after the death of the last surviving author. All of the copyright registrations listed on Exhibit Q relate to architectural designs, drawings and blueprints that we will license to you to use in development and construction of your project(s). No other copyrights are material to the Epcon Communities franchise.
We do not currently have any patents or any pending patent applications that are material to the Epcon Communities franchise.
There are no currently effective determinations of the PTO, the U.S. Copyright Office or any court regarding these copyrights. In addition, there are no agreements currently in effect which significantly limit our rights to license to you the rights to use these copyrights in the development and construction of your project(s).
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 53–54)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Epcon Communities's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the copyright registrations related to architectural designs, drawings, and blueprints have a duration of 70 years after the death of the last surviving author. These copyrights are owned by IP86 and licensed to Epcon Communities, who then sublicenses them to franchisees for project development and construction. Exhibit Q of the FDD contains a list of these copyright registrations.
This means that Epcon Communities franchisees will have the right to use these architectural designs, drawings, and blueprints for the duration of the copyright term, as long as they comply with the terms of the Franchise Agreement, manuals, and any rules prescribed by Epcon Communities. Franchisees must also promptly notify Epcon Communities of any potential copyright infringements or litigation involving the copyrights.
Copyrights created on or after January 1, 1978, do not require renewal registration. If Epcon Communities discontinues or modifies the use of any copyrighted information, they may require franchisees to do the same at the franchisee's expense. However, Epcon Communities typically allows franchisees to continue using the discontinued or modified copyrighted information to complete existing projects, provided construction has commenced and is completed within the permitted timeframe under the Franchise Agreement and Market Area Agreement.
Prospective franchisees should review Exhibit Q to understand the specific copyright registrations they will be licensing. They should also carefully consider the terms of the Franchise Agreement regarding copyright usage, notification requirements, and potential modifications or discontinuations of copyrighted information.