What is the process for Healthsource Chiropractic to grant rights to use their marks?
Healthsource_Chiropractic Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
7.1 Ownership and Goodwill of Marks
a. You acknowledge that your right to use the Marks is derived solely from this Agreement, and is limited to your operation of the Franchise pursuant to and in compliance with this Agreement and all applicable standards, specifications, and operating procedures we prescribe from time to time during the Term of this Agreement, including, without limitation, timely payment of the Initial Franchise Fee, Continuing Franchise Fees, Advertising Fees, and all other sums due to us.
b. You understand and acknowledge that our right to regulate the use of the Marks includes, without limitation, any use of the Marks in any form of electronic media, such as Websites or web pages, or as a domain name or electronic media identifier.
c.
If you make any unauthorized use of the Marks either during or after the Term of this Agreement, it will constitute a breach of this Agreement and an infringement of our rights in and to the Marks.
- 7.2 Limitations on Franchise Owner's Use of Marks.
You agree to use the Marks as the sole trade identification of the Franchise, except that you will display at the Franchise location a notice, in a form acceptable to us, stating that you are the independent owner of the Franchise pursuant to a Franchise Agreement with us.
- b. From time to time we grant to persons who meet our qualifications, franchises to own and operate a HealthSource Chiropractic Clinic in accordance with the System in a specified geographic territory. This Agreement is being presented to you because of the desire you have expressed to obtain the right to develop, own, and be franchised to operate a HealthSource Chiropractic Clinic (we refer to your HealthSource Chiropractic franchise hereinafter as the "Franchise" or the "Franchised Business"). You may purchase and operate your Franchise as a new, start-up Clinic (a "Start-up Clinic"), or may convert an existing chiropractic practice to a HealthSource Chiropractic Clinic (a "Conversion Clinic").
- c. In certain cases, where permitted by law, we may offer franchises to persons or legal entities that meet our qualifications but are not licensed to practice or provide chiropractic care, and are willing to undertake the investment and effort to own and operate a business that will manage a Start-Up or Conversion Clinic under the System; we refer to these businesses as "Clinic Management Businesses." For example, certain states do not permit non-licensed persons to own and/or operate chiropractic practices, but some states do. In states that do not permit non-licensed persons to own or operate chiropractic practices, a Clinic Management Business may be offered. In states that do permit non-licensed persons to own and operate chiropractic practices, a Clinic Management Business Franchise is not necessary, but may be offered by us under certain circumstances.
As further described below, to operate a Clinic Management Business, you must enter into a Franchise Agreement with us and a Management Agreement with a "PC" that will own and operate the Clinic. A "PC" will be one or more licensed individuals, or a professional corporation or similar entity, such as a professional limited liability company, that is duly authorized to provide chiropractic services under local and state laws. In such an arrangement:
- You, as franchisee, will construct or build-out the Clinic for use by the PC.
- The Clinic business will be operated by the PC using the HealthSource name and Marks.
- 1 Term; Reference to Exhibit 1. You have applied for a franchise to own and operate a HealthSource Chiropractic Clinic, and we have approved your application in reliance on all of the representations you made in that application. As a result, and subject to the provisions of this Agreement, we grant to you a Franchise to operate a Clinic offering all products, services, and proprietary programs of ours in accordance with all elements of the System, that we may require for HealthSource Chiropractic Clinics. You must operate the Franchise at a mutually agreeable site (the "Premises") to be identified after the signing of this Agreement, and to use the System and the Marks in the operation of that Franchise, for an "Initial Term" of 10 years.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 77–282)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Healthsource Chiropractic FDD, the right to use Healthsource Chiropractic's marks is derived solely from the Franchise Agreement. This right is limited to operating the franchise in compliance with the agreement, including adherence to standards, specifications, operating procedures, and timely payments of fees. The agreement specifies that Healthsource Chiropractic approves a franchisee's application based on the representations made within it. Upon approval, Healthsource Chiropractic grants the franchisee the right to operate a clinic and use their system and marks for an initial term of 10 years.
The agreement emphasizes that Healthsource Chiropractic regulates the use of its marks, including their use in electronic media like websites or as domain names. Unauthorized use of the marks during or after the term constitutes a breach of the agreement and an infringement of Healthsource Chiropractic's rights. Franchisees must use the marks as the sole trade identification of the franchise, with a notice stating their independent ownership under a franchise agreement with Healthsource Chiropractic.
Healthsource Chiropractic retains ownership of the marks and any goodwill established through their use, meaning the franchisee does not gain any independent rights to the marks beyond operating the franchise. Healthsource Chiropractic reserves the right to change its marks and specifications, and franchisees must promptly conform to these changes at their own expense. Healthsource Chiropractic is not responsible for reimbursing franchisees for losses due to modified or discontinued marks or the costs of changing to new marks.
In certain cases, Healthsource Chiropractic may grant franchises to individuals or entities that are not licensed to practice chiropractic care, referred to as "Clinic Management Businesses." In these arrangements, the franchisee enters into a Franchise Agreement with Healthsource Chiropractic and a Management Agreement with a licensed professional corporation (PC) that owns and operates the clinic using the Healthsource Chiropractic name and marks. This setup is common in states where non-licensed individuals cannot own or operate chiropractic practices.