Does Marble Slab Creamery possess any patents material to the franchise?
Marble_Slab_Creamery Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Marble Slab Brands owns the intellectual property rights to the Marble Slab concept, and has licensed us the right to use and sublicense the Marble Slab concept under a Master License Agreement.
Marble Slab Brands has registered these Marks on the Principal Registrar of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the "USPTO"). There are no currently effective material determinations of the USPTO, Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the trademark administrator of any state or any court involving the Marks. We know of no pending infringement, opposition, or cancellation proceedings, or material litigation involving the Marks. We have filed all of the required affidavits for these marks.
Marble Slab Brands owns all of the Marks and licenses them to us under a Master License Agreement dated March 1, 2007. The current term of the Master License Agreement ends on December 31, 2027, and may be renewed for 3 additional successive 10-year terms if we give Marble Slab Brands 6 months' notice of our intent to renew, we are in compliance with the Master License Agreement and Marble Slab Brands desires to renew the agreement.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS AND COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 71–72)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
The 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document for Marble Slab Creamery does not explicitly state that Marble Slab Creamery owns any patents. However, the document does state that Marble Slab Brands owns the intellectual property rights to the Marble Slab concept and licenses Marble Slab Franchising, LLC the right to use and sublicense the Marble Slab concept under a Master License Agreement.
Item 13 discusses trademarks, stating that Marble Slab Brands has registered certain marks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. It confirms that there are no current determinations or pending legal proceedings concerning these marks. The Master License Agreement, which allows Marble Slab Franchising, LLC to use these trademarks, is set to expire on December 31, 2027, but can be renewed for three additional ten-year terms if certain conditions are met.
While the FDD does not directly address patents, it emphasizes the importance of trademarks and the licensing agreement that enables Marble Slab Creamery franchisees to operate under the brand. A prospective franchisee should seek clarification from Marble Slab Creamery regarding any patents related to the Marble Slab Creamery system or processes.