What materials are considered 'Copyrighted Material' related to the Southern Steer business?

According to Southern Steer's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, 'Copyrighted Material' encompasses a wide array of items related to the Southern Steer business. This includes all manuals, the Brand Manual, the System itself, logos, designs, and marketing materials. It also extends to layouts of advertising materials, copyrights, writings, recordings, binders, videos, Website content, other web content, electronic files, agreements, forms, books, software, and printed materials.

This definition is comprehensive, covering virtually all tangible and digital assets associated with the Southern Steer brand and its operations. The definition explicitly includes any revisions, changes, modifications, and derivatives of these materials, ensuring that any adaptations or updates are also protected under copyright. This broad protection extends to materials provided to the franchisee by Southern Steer, its designees, or its affiliates, further solidifying Southern Steer's control over its intellectual property.

For a prospective franchisee, this means that they are granted a limited right to use these materials solely for the operation of their Southern Steer franchise, and any unauthorized use or reproduction of these materials could lead to legal repercussions. Franchisees must adhere to the guidelines set forth in the franchise agreement and the Brand Manual regarding the use of copyrighted materials. This also highlights the importance of obtaining proper authorization before using any of these materials for purposes outside of typical marketing activities, as outlined in the FDD.