What is the Kidokinetics franchisee's obligation regarding the use of the Intellectual Property?
Kidokinetics Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
usiness under such assumed business name.
- 13.7.2 Franchisee shall identify itself as the owner of the Kidokinetics Business and as an independent Kidokinetics Franchise LLC franchisee in conjunction with any use of the Intellectual Property, including, but not limited to, uses on invoices, order forms, receipts and contracts, as well as the display of a notice in such content and form and at conspicuous locations or on any vehicle as Franchisor may designate in writing.
- 13.7.3 Franchisee shall not use the Intellectual Property to incur any obligation or indebtedness on behalf of Franchisor.
- 13.7.4 Any merchandise offered by Franchisee that utilizes the Marks, must be approved by Franchisor in writing prior to being sold by Franchisee and such approval may be granted or denied in Franchisor's sole and absolute discretion.
- 13.7.5 The license of the Marks granted to Franchisee hereunder is nonexclusive and Franchisor retains the right, among others, (i) to use the Marks itself in connection with selling products and services; (ii) to grant other licenses for the Marks; and (iii) to develop and establish other systems using the Marks, similar proprietary marks, or any other proprietary marks, and to grant licenses thereto without providing any rights therein to Franchisee.
- Claims, Franchisee shall notify Franchisor immediately by telephone, and in writing, of any apparent infringement of or challenge to Franchisee's use of any Intellectual Property and of any claim by any person of any rights in any Intellectual Property. Franchisee shall promptly notify Franchisor and cooperate fully in defending or settling such litigation. Franchisee may not communicate with any person other than Franchisor or any designated affiliate thereof, their counsel and Franchisee's counsel in connection with any such infringement, challenge or claim. Franchisor will have complete discretion to take such action as it deems appropriate in connection with the foregoing, and the right to control exclusively, or to delegate control to any of its affiliates, of any settlement, litigation or Patent and Trademark Office or other proceeding arising out of any such alleged infringement, challenge or claim or otherwise relating to any Intellectual Property. Franchisee agrees to execute any and all instruments and documents, render such assistance, and do such acts or things as may, in the opinion of Franchisor, reasonably be necessary or advisable to defend or settle such litigation, to protect and maintain the interests of Franchisor or any other person or entity in any litigation or other proceeding or to otherwise protect and maintain the interests of Franchisor or any other interested party in the Intellectual Property. If Franchisee is in full compliance with this Agreement, as determined by Franchisor in its sole discretion, Franchisor shall defend and indemnify Franchisee against and reimburse Franchisee for all expenses, losses and damages (including settlement amounts and reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of suit incurred prior to Franchisor's defense of Franchisee) arising out of Franchisee's use of any of the Intellectual Property that infringes on the rights of any other party, provided that the conduct of Franchisee with respect to such proceeding and use of the Intellectual Property is in full compliance with the terms of this Agreement or any other agreement with Franchisor. If Franchisor, in Franchisor's sole discretion, determines that Franchisee has not used the Intellectual Property in accordance with this Agreement, Franchisee will bear the cost of such defense, including the cost of any judgment or settlement. In the event of any litigation relating to Franchisee's use of the Intellectual Property, Franchisee will execute
any and all documents and do such acts as may, in Franchisor's opinion, be necessary to carry out such defense or prosecution including, without limitation, becoming a nominal party to any legal action. Except to the extent that such litigation is the result of Franchisee's use of the Intellectual Property in a manner inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement, Franchisor agrees to reimburse Franchisee for Franchisee's out-of-pocket costs in performing such acts.
- 13.9 Franchisor may use and grant franchises and licenses to others to use the Intellectual Property and the System and to establish, develop and franchise other systems, different from the System licensed to Franchisee herein, without offering or providing Franchisee any rights in, to or under such other systems and Franchisor may modify or change, in whole or in part, any aspect of the Intellectual Property or the System, so long as Franchisee's rights thereto are in no way materially harmed thereby.
- 13.10 Franchisee shall not register or attempt to register the Intellectual Property in Franchisee's name or that of any other person, firm, entity or corporation.
- 13.11 Franchisee acknowledges that any unauthorized use of the Intellectual Property constitutes an infringement of Franchisor's rights in the Intellectual Property and a default of this Agreement.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 59)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Kidokinetics's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees have several obligations regarding the use of the company's intellectual property. Kidokinetics franchisees must identify themselves as the owner of the Kidokinetics Business and as an independent Kidokinetics Franchise LLC franchisee in conjunction with any use of the Intellectual Property, including, but not limited to, uses on invoices, order forms, receipts and contracts, as well as the display of a notice in such content and form and at conspicuous locations or on any vehicle as Kidokinetics may designate in writing. Franchisees cannot use the intellectual property to incur any obligation or indebtedness on behalf of Kidokinetics. Any merchandise offered by a franchisee that utilizes the Marks must be approved by Kidokinetics in writing before being sold. This approval can be granted or denied at Kidokinetics's discretion. The license of the Marks granted to the franchisee is nonexclusive, and Kidokinetics retains the right to use the Marks themselves, grant other licenses for the Marks, and develop other systems using the Marks.
Kidokinetics franchisees cannot take any action that would prejudice or interfere with the validity of Kidokinetics's rights with respect to the Intellectual Property. The agreement does not give the franchisee any right, title, or interest in any of the Intellectual Property, except the right to use it in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement for the operation of a Kidokinetics Business. All goodwill arising from the franchisee's use of the Intellectual Property inures solely to the benefit of Kidokinetics. Franchisees cannot contest the validity of Kidokinetics's interest in the Intellectual Property or assist others in doing so. Any unauthorized use of the Intellectual Property constitutes an infringement of Kidokinetics's rights and an event of default. Franchisees must provide Kidokinetics with all assignments, affidavits, documents, information, and assistance reasonably requested to fully vest in Kidokinetics all rights, title, and interest in the Intellectual Property.
Kidokinetics reserves the right to substitute different Marks for use in identifying the System and the Kidokinetics Business if the current Marks can no longer be used or if Kidokinetics determines that substitution will be beneficial to the System. In such an event, Kidokinetics will require the franchisee, at the franchisee's expense, to discontinue or modify their use of any of the Marks or to use one or more additional or substitute Marks no later than 10 days after notification. Unless otherwise authorized or required by Kidokinetics, franchisees must advertise the Kidokinetics Business only under the Mark "Kidokinetics ®," and design. Franchisees must use only the Marks that Kidokinetics designates and only in the manner Kidokinetics authorizes and permits. Franchisees must use the Marks only for the operation of the Kidokinetics Business at the location approved by Kidokinetics and for advertising the Kidokinetics Business. Franchisees cannot use the Marks as part of their corporate or other legal name and must obtain Kidokinetics's approval of their corporate or other legal name before filing it with the applicable state authority.