Does Pearce Bespoke claim copyright protection for its Pearce Bespoke Manuals?
Pearce_Bespoke Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
There are no patents or copyrights currently registered or pending which are material to the Pearce Bespoke franchise offered, although Pearce Bespoke does claim copyright protection for each of its Pearce Bespoke Manuals and for various sales promotion and other materials periodically published or located on its
website. You must keep confidential during and after the term of the franchise agreement all information contained in the Manuals. You cannot duplicate or provide any information contained in the Manuals to any party other than, during the term of the franchise agreement, those of your employees who need to know that information. When the franchise agreement terminates, you must return to Pearce Bespoke all copies of each Manual and all other material Pearce Bespoke has copyrighted or designated as confidential. Pearce Bespoke does not contract with individual franchisees to protect the copyrights, to protect individual franchisees against infringement or unfair competition claims arising out of the franchisee's use of the copyrights, or to participate in the franchisee's defense or indemnify the franchisee. Pearce Bespoke reserves the right to control any copyright litigation and will be the sole judge as to whether any suit will be brought or settled when any person or entity infringes Pearce Bespoke's copyrights.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 29–30)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Pearce Bespoke Franchise Disclosure Document, Pearce Bespoke claims copyright protection for its Pearce Bespoke Manuals. The manual contains confidential information that the franchisee must keep confidential during and after the franchise agreement term.
Pearce Bespoke restricts franchisees from duplicating or providing any manual information to outside parties, except to employees who need to know the information during the franchise term. Upon termination of the franchise agreement, the franchisee must return all copies of the manuals and other copyrighted or confidential material to Pearce Bespoke.
Pearce Bespoke retains control over copyright litigation and decides whether to pursue legal action if its copyrights are infringed. However, Pearce Bespoke does not contractually commit to protect franchisees against infringement or unfair competition claims arising from their use of the copyrights, nor does it agree to participate in the franchisee's defense or indemnify them in such cases. This means the franchisee could be responsible for legal costs if they are sued for copyright infringement related to their Pearce Bespoke business.