Can an Epcon Communities franchisee modify the franchisor's website?
Epcon_Communities Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
, graphics or other material or other information presented through the website are protected from copying under U.S. and international copyright laws and treaties. Franchisee may not use the Content except as expressly authorized by Franchisor in writing. Any unauthorized copying, use, alteration, distribution, transmission, performance, display, or other use this material is prohibited.
- (iii) Neither Franchisee nor Franchisee's employees may do any of the following: (a) modify the website; (b) attempt to "hack" the website; (c) access any restricted areas of the website; (d) interfere with the general use or enjoyment of the website; (e) prepare derivative works of the website; (f) impersonate a Franchisor officer or misrepresent the existing relationship between Franchisee and Franchisor; (g) upload damaging files or viruses;
(h) post offensive, unlawful, harassing, libelous, abusive, threatening, harmful, vulgar, obscene, hateful, racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable material of any kind or nature; or (i) post material in violation of license agreement, copyright law or other applicable local, state, national or international law or regulation. Franchisor reserves the right to remove Franchisee from its website if, in its sole discretion, it feels Franchisee is not using the website in a legitimate good-faith manner that serves the purposes of this Agreement.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 86–280)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Epcon Communities' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are explicitly restricted from modifying the franchisor's website. While Epcon Communities intends to maintain a website to promote franchisee projects, the franchisor retains sole discretion over the content, text, size, address, and appearance of the franchisee's web pages.
Specifically, franchisees and their employees are prohibited from modifying the website, attempting to "hack" it, accessing restricted areas, interfering with its general use, preparing derivative works, impersonating a franchisor officer, or uploading damaging files or viruses. The franchisor owns all content, marks, trade names, and logos on the website, protecting them under copyright laws. Franchisees are only authorized to use the content as expressly permitted by Epcon Communities in writing, with any unauthorized use being prohibited.
Epcon Communities also retains the sole right to create websites using its trademarks and related domain names. Franchisees are not allowed to operate separate websites for promoting their projects or businesses. If a franchisee owns or operates any websites related to residential construction or real estate sales, they must disclose this information to the franchisor. However, franchisees may be authorized to use portions of the content in the creation of their own website, but Epcon Communities retains the sole right to create a website using its trademarks and related domain names.
These restrictions ensure brand consistency and protect Epcon Communities' intellectual property. A prospective franchisee should understand that they will have limited control over the online representation of their projects and must adhere to the franchisor's guidelines for any web-related activities.