What is the All Dogs Unleashed franchisee's obligation if they develop an Improvement?
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, if a franchisee, their employees, or owners develop any new concept, process, or improvement related to the operation or promotion of an All Dogs Unleashed business, termed an "Improvement," they must promptly notify All Dogs Unleashed. The franchisee is obligated to provide All Dogs Unleashed with all necessary related information pertaining to the Improvement, without expecting any compensation in return.
Any such Improvement automatically becomes the sole property of All Dogs Unleashed. All Dogs Unleashed will be the sole owner of all related patents, patent applications, and other intellectual property rights associated with the Improvement. The franchisee and their owners must assign any rights they may have or acquire in the Improvements to All Dogs Unleashed, including the right to modify the Improvement. They also waive and/or release all rights of restraint and moral rights related to it.
Furthermore, the franchisee and their owners agree to assist All Dogs Unleashed in obtaining and enforcing the intellectual property rights to any such Improvement in any and all countries. This includes executing and providing All Dogs Unleashed with all necessary documentation for obtaining and enforcing such rights. The franchisee and their owners irrevocably designate and appoint All Dogs Unleashed as their agent and attorney-in-fact 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 Improvement.
In the event that these provisions are found to be invalid or unenforceable, the franchisee and their owners grant All Dogs Unleashed a worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive, fully-paid license to use and sublicense the use of the Improvement. This license applies to the extent that such use or sublicense would, absent the agreement, directly or indirectly infringe on the rights of the franchisee or their owners.