Market Hong Kong recognizes advertising and promotion can be viable methods for UnFranchise™ Owners to build their businesses; however, strict regulations are necessary to maintain an effective and ethical marketing effort. These regulations are a part of the Independent UnFranchise Owner Application and Agreement between Market Hong Kong and its UnFranchise Owners.
Noncompliance with the advertising regulations by a few UnFranchise Owners can have severe consequences for all UnFranchise Owners. Failure by UnFranchise Owners to comply with the policies, procedures, rules and regulations set forth in this section may result in the termination of UnFranchise Owner status and the loss of future income with the company. UnFranchise Owners found intentionally violating these provisions, which, in particular, affect our goodwill and reputation with Hong Kong regulatory agencies, may have their UnFranchise Owner contract terminated and/or be reported to the proper authorities. In addition, Market Hong Kong may elect to take legal action against those who violate Market Hong Kong’s advertising policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
Any notice designed to attract public attention or patronage, including but not limited to training materials, flyers, display ads, bulletins, newsletters, email, website advertising and even a personal letter, can be a method of advertising.
(A) Approved Literature: Only official Market Hong Kong literature offered by the company may be used in representing the Market Hong Kong home-based business and/or the Market Hong Kong Management Performance Compensation Plan. Company literature may not be duplicated, copied or reprinted without written consent from the company.
(B) Approved Advertising/Materials: Only company-approved materials, as provided by the UnFranchise Management System or as authorized by the company, may be used in placement of advertising in any print media. UnFranchise Owners may only use income or product claims published and approved by Market Hong Kong. Use of unauthorized income or product claims is grounds for initiation of Corrective Action Procedures by the company. Unauthorized income or product claims are not permissible even if neither Market Hong Kong’s name nor product names are used in the advertisement or claim.
(C) Use of Proprietary Materials/Intellectual Property: No person or entity shall use any Market Hong Kong intellectual property including but not limited to, name, logo, trademark, trade name or copyrighted material (hereafter referred to as intellectual property) in any advertising not produced by Market Hong Kong or its authorized agents without written permission from Market Hong Kong.
(D) Authorized Use of Company Name: Use of the company name on any item not produced by the company is prohibited except in the following manner:
NAME
Independent UnFranchise Owner
Market Hong Kong Limited.
UnFranchise Owners are prohibited from using radio, television, Internet, advertising and public appearances to publicize Market Hong Kong, its compensation program or home-based business opportunity without prior written approval from the company.
UnFranchise Owners may not produce for sale any recordings of company or GMTSS events or speeches without written permission from Market Hong Kong, nor may they reproduce for sale or for personal use any recording of company-produced presentations in any format.
UnFranchise Owners may not answer the telephone by saying, “Market Hong Kong,” or in any other manner that would lead the caller to believe that they have reached an office of the company.
(A) Answering Service: If UnFranchise Owners have an answering service or a telephone answering machine that mentions Market Hong Kong, the message must indicate their UnFranchise Owner status.
(B) Listings: UnFranchise Owners may be listed in a telephone directory in one of the following ways only:
John Doe
Market Hong Kong Independent UnFranchise Owner
Address and Telephone Number
OR
Market Hong Kong Independent UnFranchise Owner
John Doe
Address and Telephone Number
(C) Telemarketing: UnFranchise Owners may not use outgoing recorded messages to promote Market Hong Kong products or solicit new UnFranchise Owners. Such activity is strictly forbidden.
(D) Telephone Solicitation: If UnFranchise Owners engage in telephone solicitation, they must introduce themselves as Independent UnFranchise Owners of Market Hong Kong and may not engage in any representation inconsistent with their Independent UnFranchise Owner status and relationship to Market Hong Kong. UnFranchise Owners must also familiarize themselves and comply with any applicable Hong Kong Laws that prohibit or limit acts of unsolicited telephone calls.
Any printed materials, including business cards and stationery, must be of good quality materials, professionally done and properly stating the independent status of the UnFranchise Owner. Do not use the Market Hong Kong logo on personal business letterhead, newsletters, advertisements, electronic cards or communications without stating Independent UnFranchise Owner status.
Market Hong Kong has no affiliation with any direct sales, network marketing or multilevel marketing company. DO NOT send solicitations for any other product, service or marketing plan in the same envelope or package with Market Hong Kong literature.
A Market Hong Kong UnFranchise Owner may discuss and provide products at Fairs and Tradeshows as long as it is done in good faith and taste. The promotion of other companies’ products or services in the same booth is strictly prohibited and violation may be grounds for termination.
If UnFranchise Owners have an idea for advertising, literature or promotion, they should submit a request for approval in writing to ad-request@markethongkong.com.hk including the following information:
(A) Sample of proposed item for review in final form. It should look exactly the way the UnFranchise Owner would like to have it look when it is published.
(B) Detailed information regarding the intended use of the item. For example, if the UnFranchise Owner wants to run an advertisement in the local newspaper, the request should include the name of the newspaper and the dates the advertisement would run.
(C) Any additional relevant background information.
Requests will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. UnFranchise Owners should allow 7-10 business days for the review process.
Executive Coordinators sign the Executive Coordinator Agreement promising to execute the terms and conditions of that agreement as part of their right to receive continued compensation (commission) in the MPCP.
(A) Responsibility: Executive Coordinators are required to oversee and enforce these policies by reporting infractions to the company. Failure to enforce these policies within their organization may result in compensation being withheld until the matter is resolved.
(B) Violation: UnFranchise Owners copying or using copied company literature and/or producing their own literature or advertisements without receiving written approval from Market Hong Kong may be subject to sanctions, including but not limited to written warnings, a demand that the unapproved material be destroyed, Group Business Volume being flushed (erased to zero), and termination, at the sole discretion of the company.
Only generic materials approved for use by Market Hong Kong may be used in conjunction with Market Hong Kong activities. A list of approved generic materials may be obtained from the Director of GMTSS.
(A) Sale of Generic Materials: UnFranchise Owners shall not sell generic sales aids as part of their Market Hong Kong business. They can, however, refer individuals interested in buying an item not offered by the company to the appropriate place to purchase the item (e.g., refer the UnFranchise Owner to a bookstore to purchase a book that has helped you to be successful). Items on the Approved Generic Sales Aid list shall not be sold directly by UnFranchise Owners, even if there is no profit involved.
(B) Obtaining Generic Materials: UnFranchise Owners may only purchase for use in their Market Hong Kong business generic sales aids or business-building materials that are on the Approved Generic Sales Aid list.
(C) Obtaining Approval of New Materials: If UnFranchise Owners identify generic material they think may be of help to other UnFranchise Owners, they can submit the item and a written proposal to their upline Advisory Council Member for review.
(1) If the Advisory Council Member determines the item of merit and value, he/she shall submit the item to Market Hong Kong’s Advisory Board for review and consideration.
(2) If approved by the Advisory Board, the generic item will be added to the Approved Generic Sales Aid List.