Are Epcon Communities franchisees allowed to advertise goods or services on the Intranet?
Epcon_Communities Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The following items will describe the terms of service for the Epcon Communities services collectively known as the Epcon Communities Intranet. These services include a web site, online training modules, and a bulletin board service, as well as any services, which may be added from time to time. The purpose of the Epcon Communities Intranet is to facilitate communication between you and other Epcon Communities franchisees and their employees, Epcon Communities employees and Epcon Communities departments. We at Epcon Communities believe that you will find the Epcon Communities Intranet to be both useful as a means for receiving technical information and assistance from Epcon Communities, and as a forum for discussion on a wide range of issues of interest to the Epcon Communities community as a whole. Because you, as an Epcon Communities Intranet User, will have the ability not only to access information on the Epcon Communities Intranet, but also the ability to contribute information by uploading information, and/or participating in real-time and other communications, you must agree to the following before you will be authorized to access the Epcon Communities Intranet:
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 86–280)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
The 2025 FDD outlines the terms of service for the Epcon Communities Intranet, which is designed to facilitate communication between franchisees, their employees, Epcon Communities employees, and various departments. The Intranet includes a website, online training modules, and a bulletin board service. Franchisees can access and contribute information, upload content, and participate in real-time communications. However, the FDD does not explicitly state whether franchisees are allowed to advertise goods or services on the Intranet.
While franchisees can use the Intranet for internal business purposes as authorized by Epcon Communities, the authorization to access and use the Intranet is limited to the franchisee's internal use in their ordinary course of business. Franchisees must agree not to divulge or use information concerning Epcon Communities' systems, products, or services for their own benefit or that of any third party. The content on the Intranet, including text, logos, software, and graphics, is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws, and franchisees are only permitted to use this content as expressly authorized by Epcon Communities.
Epcon Communities retains the right to update, modify, change, or terminate any part of the Intranet's functionality, including services provided. They may also modify the agreement governing Intranet use, with notice provided online, via email, or through regular mail. Accessing the Intranet after receiving notice of modifications constitutes acceptance of those changes. Franchisees are authorized to use portions of the Intranet content to create their own websites, but Epcon Communities retains the sole right to create websites using specific domain names.
Given the lack of explicit permission regarding advertising and the restrictions on using Intranet content for unauthorized purposes, franchisees should seek clarification from Epcon Communities about whether advertising goods or services on the Intranet is permitted. This will ensure compliance with the franchise agreement and avoid potential penalties or termination of Intranet access.