Here's a link to a session delivered by Sir Harold Evans on the origin of Franchising.  The use of the franchise as a business model was developed by a Canadian, believe it or not.  It shows the way I'd like to download my law lectures for online viewing.  The only problem is, I'd have to hire an artist to do the drawings.  I have no facility in that department (I was the last person in my class in Grade 4 to get a pen).