What assistance must the franchisee provide to All Dogs Unleashed regarding intellectual property rights for Improvements?
All_Dogs_Unleashed Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If you, your employees, or Owners develop any new concept, process or improvement relative to the operation or promotion of an ALL DOGS UNLEASHED business (an "Improvement"), you agree to promptly notify Franchisor and provide Franchisor with all necessary related information, without compensation.
Any such Improvement shall become Franchisor's sole property and Franchisor shall be the sole owner of all related patents, patent applications, and other intellectual property rights.
You and your Owners hereby assign to Franchisor any rights you or your Owners may have or acquire in the Improvements, including the right to modify the Improvement, and waive and/or release all rights of restraint and moral rights therein and thereto.
You and your Owners agree to assist Franchisor in obtaining and enforcing the intellectual property rights to any such Improvement in any and all countries and further agree to execute and provide Franchisor with all necessary documentation for obtaining and enforcing such rights.
You and your Owners hereby irrevocably designate and appoint Franchisor as agent and attorney-in-fact for you and for them to execute and file any such documentation and to do all other lawful acts to further the prosecution and issuance of patents or other intellectual property right related to any such Improvement.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 49–158)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to All Dogs Unleashed's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees have specific obligations regarding intellectual property rights related to any improvements they develop. If a franchisee, their employees, or owners create any new concept, process, or improvement related to the operation or promotion of an All Dogs Unleashed business, they must promptly notify All Dogs Unleashed and provide all necessary related information without compensation. This ensures that All Dogs Unleashed is aware of any potential innovations within its franchise system.
Any such improvement becomes the sole property of All Dogs Unleashed, which will be the sole owner of all related patents, patent applications, and other intellectual property rights. Franchisees and their owners must assign any rights they may have or acquire in these improvements to All Dogs Unleashed. This includes the right to modify the improvement. They also waive and/or release all rights of restraint and moral rights.
Furthermore, franchisees and their owners must assist All Dogs Unleashed in obtaining and enforcing the intellectual property rights to any such improvement in any and all countries. This assistance includes executing and providing All Dogs Unleashed with all necessary documentation for obtaining and enforcing such rights. The agreement also irrevocably designates and appoints All Dogs Unleashed as the agent and attorney-in-fact for the franchisee and their owners to execute and file any such documentation and to perform all other lawful acts to further the prosecution and issuance of patents or other intellectual property rights related to any such improvement. This comprehensive transfer of rights and required assistance is typical in franchising to protect the brand's intellectual property and ensure consistent standards across all locations.