Who reserves the right to control any copyright litigation related to the Pearce Bespoke franchise?

According to the 2025 Pearce Bespoke Franchise Disclosure Document, Pearce Bespoke reserves the right to control any copyright litigation pertaining to its franchise system. This means that if there is a legal dispute involving the copyright of Pearce Bespoke's materials, the company, not the franchisee, will decide how to proceed with the lawsuit, including whether to bring a suit or how to settle it.

This is a significant point for potential franchisees because it clarifies that Pearce Bespoke maintains control over its intellectual property. While franchisees use Pearce Bespoke's copyrighted materials in their daily operations, the franchisor retains the authority to protect those copyrights. This arrangement is typical in franchising, as it ensures brand consistency and protects the overall value of the franchise system.

For a prospective franchisee, this means they will not have the power to independently pursue legal action to protect the brand's copyrights, even if they believe their business is being directly harmed by an infringement. Instead, they must rely on Pearce Bespoke to take appropriate action. It also means that Pearce Bespoke will make the ultimate decisions about litigation strategy and settlement terms.

Pearce Bespoke also does not contract 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.