Does Southern Steer register copyrights for its websites, mobile applications, and other materials with the U.S. Copyright Office?

According to Southern Steer's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Southern Steer and/or its affiliates possess copyright rights for various materials, including websites, mobile applications, advertising copy and design, menu designs, training materials, and the Brand Manual. However, Southern Steer has not applied to register these copyrights with the U.S. Copyright Office. This means that while Southern Steer asserts ownership of these materials, it has not taken the formal step of registering them with the federal government.

For a prospective franchisee, this has several implications. While Southern Steer retains copyright rights, the lack of registration may affect the ease with which they can enforce those rights in court. Copyright registration provides certain legal advantages, such as the ability to sue for statutory damages and attorney's fees in infringement cases. Without registration, Southern Steer may face additional hurdles in protecting its intellectual property.

Despite not registering copyrights, Southern Steer considers its Brand Manual, electronic information, sales and promotional materials, recipes, and other related materials as proprietary and confidential. Franchisees are required to maintain the confidentiality of this information and are prohibited from unauthorized use or disclosure. Southern Steer also requires franchisees and their personnel to sign a Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement to further protect its confidential information and trade secrets.

Southern Steer states that it is unaware of any copyright or patent infringement that could materially affect a franchisee's use of copyrighted materials, confidential information, or trade secrets. Franchisees are obligated to inform Southern Steer of any unauthorized use or infringement. While Southern Steer is not contractually obligated to protect franchisees against infringement claims, it states that it is its policy to do so when its counsel believes protection is warranted and will cover associated costs for litigation it chooses to pursue.