Upon termination of an Afuri Ramen Dumpling franchise, what happens to the keys and codes?

According to the 2024 Afuri Ramen Dumpling Franchise Disclosure Document, upon termination of the franchise agreement for any reason, the franchisee is required to return to Afuri Ramen Dumpling all proprietary and confidential materials. This includes customer lists and account information, keys, codes, signage, advertising and marketing materials, service agreements and other forms, printed files, security codes, and additional similar items and information as may be described in the Operations Manual.

If the franchisee fails to return or cease use of any of these items, Afuri Ramen Dumpling has the right to enter the franchisee's business premises without being considered guilty of trespass or any other tort in order to remove and retain these items. The franchisee is responsible for paying Afuri Ramen Dumpling, on demand, for any expenses incurred in the process of removing or collecting such items or in attempting to have the franchisee cease using them.

This clause ensures that Afuri Ramen Dumpling maintains control over its confidential information and proprietary assets after a franchise agreement ends. It protects the brand's intellectual property and operational integrity by preventing former franchisees from potentially misusing sensitive information or continuing to operate as if they were still part of the Afuri Ramen Dumpling system. The ability to enter the premises to retrieve these items provides Afuri Ramen Dumpling with a legal recourse to swiftly secure their assets and prevent further unauthorized use.