Which items in the All Team Disclosure Document relate to trademarks and proprietary information?
All_Team Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| OBLIGATION | SECTION IN AGREEMENT | DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT ITEM |
|---|---|---|
| (h) Trademarks and proprietary | Section IX of the Franchise Agreement | Item 13 and 14 |
| information |
[Item 14: PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION]
ITEM 14. PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
We own no special patents which pertain to the Franchise Agreement.
We claim copyrights in the Confidential Operations Manual, sales material and brochures, and related items used in operating the franchise. We have not registered these copyrights with the United States Registrar of Copyrights, but need not do so at this time to protect them. You may use these items only as we specify while operating your Agency.
There currently are no effective adverse determinations of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Copyright Office, or any court regarding the copyrighted materials. No agreements limit our right to use or allow others to use the copyrighted materials. We do not actually know of any infringing uses of our copyrights that could materially affect your use of the copyrighted materials in any state.
We need not protect or defend copyrights, although we intend to do so if in the system's best interest. We may control any action we choose to bring, even if you voluntarily bring the matter to our attention. We need not participate in your defense and/or indemnify you for damages or expenses in a proceeding involving a copyright.
Our Manual and other materials contain our confidential information (some of which constitutes trade secrets under applicable law). This information includes any information or knowledge concerning the products, services, standards, procedures, techniques, sales information, profit margins, marketing procedures, expansion plans, clients, rates, fees and terms and other information or material which we may designate as confidential, including customer lists, sales and promotional information, employee lists, financial information furnished or disclosed to you by us or our affiliates, unless such information is generally known and in the public domain, and except to the extent necessary to operate the Agency ("Confidential Information"). You will not use the confidential information in an unauthorized manner. You agree to exercise the highest degree of diligence and will make every effort to maintain the absolute confidentiality of all confidential information, trade secrets and proprietary rights during and after the term of the Franchise Agreement. All of your employees will exercise the highest degree of diligence and make every effort to maintain the absolute confidentiality of all trade secrets and proprietary rights during and after the term of the Franchise Agreement, and will require all personnel to execute a Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement relating to trade secrets in a form acceptable to us.
Source: Item 9 — FRANCHISEE'S OBLIGATIONS (FDD pages 16–17)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to All Team's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Item 14 and Item 9 relate to trademarks and proprietary information. Item 14 specifically addresses patents, copyrights, and proprietary information, outlining what All Team owns and how franchisees can use these items. It also discusses the confidential nature of the operations manual and other materials. Item 9 lists the franchisee's obligations, and one of those obligations pertains to trademarks and proprietary information, referencing Section IX of the Franchise Agreement and Items 13 and 14 of the disclosure document.
Item 14 indicates that All Team claims copyrights to its Confidential Operations Manual, sales material, and brochures, though these copyrights are not registered. Franchisees are permitted to use these items only as specified by All Team. The document states that All Team need not protect or defend these copyrights but intends to do so if it is in the system's best interest. The Manual and other materials contain confidential information, including trade secrets, concerning products, services, standards, procedures, techniques, sales information, profit margins, marketing procedures, expansion plans, clients, rates, fees, terms, customer lists, sales and promotional information, and employee lists. Franchisees must maintain the confidentiality of this information during and after the term of the Franchise Agreement.
Item 9 provides a table that summarizes the franchisee's obligations, linking each obligation to specific sections in the Franchise Agreement and relevant items in the Disclosure Document. This table clearly shows that compliance with trademark and proprietary information guidelines is a significant obligation for All Team franchisees. A prospective franchisee should carefully review Section IX of the Franchise Agreement, as well as Items 13 and 14 of the FDD, to fully understand their responsibilities regarding All Team's trademarks and proprietary information.