In a recent High Court case, the Court held that a licence agreement can qualify as a franchise agreement and a licensor cannot offer to sell or provide a franchise until his franchise is registered in Malaysia.
Munafya Sdn Bhd v Profquaz Sdn Bhd
The Defendant operates an Islamic education system or syllabus for preschool children under the name Children Islamic Center (CIC). CIC is a franchise registered with the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism (“MDTCC”) and also with the Ministry of Education (“MoE”) (collectively referred as the “Ministries”).
Before the said registrations with Ministries, the Defendant entered into a licence agreement granting the Plaintiff the right to operate the CIC.
After the necessary preparation was done, the Plaintiff discovered that CIC was not registered with the Private Education Division of the MoE. The Plaintiff demand proof of registration but the Defendant failed to do so. However, the Defendant subsequently took steps to register CIC with the Ministries. Before the grant of the registrations, the Plaintiff terminated the agreement and demanded for, among others, a refund of RM35,000.
In allowing the Plaintiff’s claim, the High Court held that, among others:-
1. Notwithstanding that the agreement is in essence a licence agreement and the word “franchise” is not pleaded, the Malaysian Franchise Act 1998 is applicable. Under s. 6(1) of the said act, a franchisor shall register his franchise with the Franchise Registrar before he can make an offer to sell the franchise to any person.
2. In view that the Defendant had failed to register its CIC franchise with the Ministries before the signing of the licence agreement, the Defendant cannot offer or give the CIC licence to the Plaintiff. Therefore, the Plaintiff’s termination is not premature.
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