What rights does the Architect irrevocably transfer to Epcon Communities regarding the copyright of each Work?
Epcon_Communities Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Architect hereby irrevocably transfers, conveys and assigns all worldwide right, title and interest in the copyright of each such Work in all formats and media, whether now existing or hereafter devised, including all electronic and future media, all translations and all primary and subsidiary rights, to Epcon.
The rights transferred include but are not limited to the right to bring suit, collect damages and pursue all remedies for past infringement, all copyrights registrations of the Work, and the right to secure any copyright registrations, renewals, reissues or extensions of any such copyrights throughout the world, the right to register the copyright in Epcon's name, the right to license, sell, assign or otherwise exploit the Work as it sees fit in its sole discretion, the right to reproduce, alter, expand, change, modify and adapt the Work, and the sole right to decide whether and in what manner to publish, advertise, publicize, and exploit the Work.
This Agreement is intended to satisfy the requirements of 17 U.S.C.
Section 204.
Architect agrees to execute upon demand any additional assignments or other documents that Epcon may reasonably request in order to assign or confirm the assignment of all such copyrights from Architect to Epcon.
If any other party has any right, title or interest in the Works, Architect shall obtain all rights and assign such rights to Epcon.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 86–280)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, Epcon Communities requires that any architect who modifies or revises Epcon Communities's work must irrevocably transfer all rights to the copyright of that work to Epcon Communities. This transfer includes all formats and media, whether existing now or created in the future, encompassing electronic and future media, translations, and all primary and subsidiary rights.
The rights transferred to Epcon Communities include the ability to sue for and collect damages for past copyright infringement, register copyrights, and secure renewals or extensions of those copyrights worldwide. Epcon Communities has the right to register the copyright in its own name and to license, sell, assign, or otherwise use the work as it sees fit. This also includes the right to reproduce, alter, expand, change, modify, and adapt the work, as well as the sole right to decide how to publish, advertise, publicize, and exploit the work.
This agreement ensures that Epcon Communities has complete control and ownership over the architectural designs and related works. It also ensures that Epcon Communities can protect its intellectual property and use it for its business purposes without any restrictions from the architect. The architect also agrees to provide any additional documents that Epcon Communities requests to confirm the assignment of copyrights. If any other party has rights to the works, the architect must obtain those rights and assign them to Epcon Communities.