Transfer customer data to franchisor
In its judgment of 10 January 2017, ECLI:NL:GHAMS:2017:68 (OnlineAccountants.nl), the Amsterdam Court ruled, among other things, on the question of how customer data should be transferred.
The franchise agreement stipulated that upon termination of the franchise agreement, the franchisee was entitled to continue serving (certain) customers. For those customers that would not be transferred from the franchisee to the franchisor, the franchisor would transfer all data related to those customers to the franchisee free of charge. This had to be done under penalty of a contractual penalty.
The franchisee is of the opinion that the franchisor had not complied with this obligation. The franchisor is therefore required to pay the contractual penalty. However, the court ruled that the franchisee had access to the relevant data in the cloud until one day after the franchise agreement had ended. The franchisee could download this customer data free of charge at any time. The franchisor is therefore not obliged to also make this customer data separately (physically) available to the franchisee.
According to the Court of Appeal, the franchisee cannot claim from the franchisor that which has already been made digitally available in the cloud by the franchisee itself.
mr. AW Dolphijn – Franchise lawyer
Ludwig & Van Dam Franchise attorneys, franchise legal advice. Do you want to respond? Go to dolphijn@ludwigvandam.nl .
Other messages
Article Franchise+ – “Recipient’s liability in a franchise context, what exactly is that about?” – mr. K. Bastiaans – dated November 24, 2020
The phenomenon of hirer's liability means that a third party can be held liable for the debts of another under certain conditions.
Franchisor liable for errors made by a franchisee? – mr. AW Dolphijn – dated November 23, 2020
A franchise organization asked the court to declare that the franchisor is not liable if a franchisee has made a serious mistake with a customer.
The Real Intentions of the Parties to a Franchise Agreement – Mr. C. Damen – dated November 23, 2020
What really was the idea of the parties when they concluded a franchise agreement?
Circumventing the prohibition of competition in the franchise agreement – mr. AW Dolphijn – dated November 10, 2020
A non-competition clause in a franchise agreement is often experienced as objectionable by franchisees, especially if the non-competition clause also applies after the franchise agreement has expired.
Article Franchise+ – “How do I get rid of my debts: Also for franchisees and franchisors” – mr. AW Dolphijn – dated October 20, 2020
A reorganization may also be necessary for franchisees and franchisors who are in financial difficulties in order to continue to exist.
Article De Nationale Franchise Gids: “Reinvestment obligation for franchisees has limits” – dated October 13, 2020 – mr. RCWL Albers
In practice, it often happens that franchisors choose to renew their franchise formula and the appropriate image