Is the Gokhale Method license of the Marks granted to the franchisee exclusive?
Gokhale_Method Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
- 9.3.2. The license of the Marks granted to you is not exclusive, and we retain the rights, among others: (a) to use the Marks ourselves in connection with selling products, merchandise, and services; (b) to grant other licenses for the Marks; (c) to develop and establish other systems using the Marks, similar Marks, or any other Marks; and (d) to grant licenses thereto without providing any rights therein to you.
- 9.3.3. We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to modify, add to, or discontinue use of the Marks, or to substitute different Marks, for use in identifying the System and the businesses operating thereunder. You agree that if we change the Marks that you will comply with any changes we require you to make at your expense.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 34)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to the 2024 Gokhale Method Franchise Disclosure Document, the license granted to a franchisee for the use of Gokhale Method's Marks is not exclusive. Gokhale Method retains several rights regarding the Marks.
This means that Gokhale Method can use the Marks themselves for selling products, merchandise, and services. They can also grant licenses to other franchisees, develop other systems using the Marks or similar marks, and grant licenses to those systems without providing any rights to the original franchisee.
Furthermore, Gokhale Method reserves the right to modify, add to, or discontinue the use of the Marks, or substitute different Marks for identifying the Gokhale System. If Gokhale Method changes the Marks, the franchisee is obligated to comply with these changes at their own expense. This lack of exclusivity and the potential for changes to the Marks are important considerations for prospective franchisees.