What is considered an 'Improvement' in relation to an All Dogs Unleashed business?
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.
In the event that the foregoing provisions of this Section 8.4 are found to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, you and your Owners hereby grant to Franchisor a worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive, fully-paid license to use and sublicense the use of the Improvement
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 49–158)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 All Dogs Unleashed Franchise Disclosure Document, an "Improvement" is defined as any new concept, process, or improvement that a franchisee, their employees, or owners develop related to the operation or promotion of an All Dogs Unleashed business.
This means that if a franchisee comes up with a better way to train dogs, a more efficient process for managing daycare, or a new marketing strategy that boosts sales, it would be considered an Improvement. The FDD stipulates that the franchisee must promptly notify All Dogs Unleashed of any such Improvement and provide all necessary related information without any compensation.
The implications of this clause are significant for franchisees. Any Improvement they develop automatically becomes the sole property of All Dogs Unleashed. The franchisor also becomes the sole owner of all related patents, patent applications, and other intellectual property rights. Franchisees essentially assign all rights to their Improvements to All Dogs Unleashed, including the right to modify the Improvement. This is a fairly standard clause in franchise agreements, as it allows the franchisor to maintain consistency and control over the brand and system-wide operations.
This clause also includes a waiver of restraint and moral rights, meaning franchisees give up any claims to the Improvement. They also agree to assist All Dogs Unleashed in obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights in any country and must provide all necessary documentation for this purpose. In the event that these provisions are deemed unenforceable, the franchisee grants All Dogs Unleashed a worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive, fully-paid license to use and sublicense the Improvement.