Where can I find the definition of 'Franchisee IP' within the Focus Cfo Franchise Agreement?
Focus_Cfo Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 15.7. Focus CFO agrees and understands that Franchisee is in the business of marketing and offering CFO Services and in connection therewith, Franchisee owns various preexisting materials, tools, methodologies and know-how used to market and offer CFO Services and may develop after the Effective Date additional materials, tools, methodologies and know-how used to market and offer Chief Financial Officer services unrelated to the Focus CFO System or Confidential Information (the "Franchisee IP"), which shall remain the sole and exclusive property of Franchisee. With the exception of the Franchisee IP, Focus CFO is and will be the exclusive owner and deemed author of all information or materials developed, created or required to be delivered to Focus CFO or a Focus CFO client by Franchisee in marketing or offering the CFO Services, including but not limited to reports, data, insights, materials, physical media, information, goods, notes, deliverables, designs, findings, evaluations, plans, processes, software, source code, object code, documentation, and any other information or materials of any kind, whether or not completed, together with all modifications, revisions, changes, copies, partial copies, translations, compilations and derivative works of the foregoing (herein the "Work Product"), and will have the exclusive worldwide right as between the parties to secure or claim copyright, patent, trademark or other intellectual property rights and protection,
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 37–126)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Focus Cfo Franchise Disclosure Document, the definition of 'Franchisee IP' can be found in Section 15.7 of Item 23. This section clarifies that Focus Cfo acknowledges the franchisee's existing and future ownership of materials, tools, methodologies, and know-how used to market and offer Chief Financial Officer services that are unrelated to the Focus CFO system or confidential information.
In essence, 'Franchisee IP' refers to the intellectual property that a franchisee brings to the table or develops independently, outside of the franchisor's established system. This intellectual property remains the sole and exclusive property of the franchisee.
Conversely, with the exception of the Franchisee IP, Focus CFO retains ownership of all information or materials developed, created, or required to be delivered to Focus CFO or a Focus CFO client by Franchisee in marketing or offering the CFO Services, including but not limited to reports, data, insights, materials, physical media, information, goods, notes, deliverables, designs, findings, evaluations, plans, processes, software, source code, object code, documentation, and any other information or materials of any kind, whether or not completed, together with all modifications, revisions, changes, copies, partial copies, translations, compilations and derivative works of the foregoing (herein the "Work Product"), and will have the exclusive worldwide right as between the parties to secure or claim copyright, patent, trademark or other intellectual property rights and protection.