Does Stretch Zone consent to the use of copyrighted materials by franchisees, and if so, under what conditions?
Stretch_Zone Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We claim all common law copyrights covering various materials used in our Business System and in the operation of Company-Owned Units and Franchised Units, including the Operations Manual, advertising, promotional literature, or any other works protectable under the copyright laws. In addition, we own or have the right to use other original and derivative copyrightable works such as architectural designs, plans, specifications, photographs and décor. We do not license the copyrights in these materials to you under the Franchise Agreement, but we consent to your use in accordance with the terms of the Franchise Agreement.
We have not registered these copyrights in the United States Registrar of Copyrights, but we may do so in its sole discretion. We prohibit you from attempting to register with the United States Copyright Office any works you create relative to the Franchise Business. You will not otherwise claim authorship or exclusive ownership of any of the works.
We give you electronic access to you the Operations Manual as discussed in ITEM 11.
If there is any claim of copyright infringement, unfair competition or other challenge to your right to use of any Copyright, or if you become aware of any use of, or claims to, any Copyright by persons other than us or our Franchisees, you will promptly (within 7 days) notify us in writing. You will not communicate with anyone except our counsel and us on any infringement, challenge or claim except under judicial process. We have sole discretion as to whether we take any action on any infringement, challenge or claim. We have the sole right to control any litigation or other proceeding arising out of any infringement of, challenge to, or claim to any Copyright. You must sign all documents, render all assistance, and do all acts that our attorneys deem necessary or advisable in order to protect and maintain our interest in any litigation or proceeding involving the Copyright or otherwise to protect and maintain our interests in the Copyright. We indemnify you against and will reimburse you for all damages and costs (including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs) for which you are held liable in any proceeding based on your use of any Copyright in accordance with the Franchise Agreement, provided you: (a) have timely notified us of the claim or proceeding; (b) have otherwise complied with the Franchise Agreement; (c) allow us sole control of the defense and settlement of the action; and (d) cooperate fully with our counsel in the defense of the action.
If we deem it advisable to modify or discontinue use of any copyrighted work and/or use one or more new or derivative copyrighted works, you must do so and our sole obligation in this event is to reimburse you for your tangible costs (for example, changing materials) of complying with this obligation.
Source: Item 14 — ITEM -14 PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 60–62)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Stretch Zone Franchise Disclosure Document, Stretch Zone claims common law copyrights covering various materials used in their Business System, including the Operations Manual, advertising, promotional literature, and other copyrightable works. Stretch Zone also owns or has the right to use original and derivative copyrightable works such as architectural designs, plans, specifications, photographs, and décor. While Stretch Zone does not license these copyrights to franchisees under the Franchise Agreement, they do consent to their use in accordance with the terms of the Franchise Agreement.
Stretch Zone prohibits franchisees from attempting to register any works they create relative to the Franchise Business with the United States Copyright Office and prevents them from claiming authorship or exclusive ownership of any of the works. Franchisees are given electronic access to the Operations Manual.
Stretch Zone will indemnify franchisees against and reimburse them for all damages and costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs, for which they are held liable in any proceeding based on their use of any Copyright in accordance with the Franchise Agreement, provided the franchisee has timely notified Stretch Zone of the claim or proceeding, has otherwise complied with the Franchise Agreement, allows Stretch Zone sole control of the defense and settlement of the action, and cooperates fully with Stretch Zone's counsel in the defense of the action. If Stretch Zone deems it advisable to modify or discontinue use of any copyrighted work and/or use one or more new or derivative copyrighted works, the franchisee must do so, and Stretch Zone's sole obligation in this event is to reimburse the franchisee for their tangible costs of complying with this obligation.