Does Pearce Bespoke claim copyright protection for materials on its website?
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 materials on its website. Specifically, Pearce Bespoke asserts copyright protection for its manuals, sales promotions, and other materials published or located on its website.
As a Pearce Bespoke franchisee, you are obligated to maintain the confidentiality of all information contained within the manuals, both during and after the franchise agreement. Duplication or provision of manual content to unauthorized parties is prohibited during the term of the agreement. Upon termination, all copies of the manuals and copyrighted materials must be returned to Pearce Bespoke.
Pearce Bespoke retains control over copyright litigation and has the sole discretion to decide whether to pursue legal action against infringers. However, Pearce Bespoke does not offer individual franchisees protection against infringement or unfair competition claims arising from their use of the copyrighted materials, nor does it participate in their defense or provide indemnification.