What efforts are required to maintain the secrecy of a 'Trade Secret' for an Apricot Lane franchise?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
nual, which may be provided as one or more separate manuals, written instructional guides, CD Rom, or other communications from the Franchisor or its affiliates, which may be changed or supplemented from time to time.
- (e) "Franchise Agreement" shall mean the franchise agreement between Franchisor and
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- (g) "Term" shall have the meaning defined in the Franchise Agreement.
- (h) "Trade Secret(s)" shall mean information, including a customer lists, pattern, compilation, program, device, method, technique or process related to the Franchise Business that both derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use and is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
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Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 51–222)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Apricot Lane FDD, a 'Trade Secret' is defined as information related to the franchise business that has economic value due to its secrecy and is subject to reasonable efforts to maintain that secrecy. This includes, but is not limited to, customer lists, patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques, or processes.
During the term of the Franchise Agreement, including any renewals, and even after the agreement ends, the franchisee (referred to as 'Associate') must not publish, disclose, divulge, or communicate Apricot Lane's Trade Secrets to anyone. The franchisee also cannot use these Trade Secrets for their own benefit or for the benefit of any entity other than Apricot Lane or the Franchise Business itself.
The FDD emphasizes that Apricot Lane has invested significant resources in developing these Trade Secrets and has taken precautions to protect their secrecy. Unauthorized disclosure or use of Trade Secrets would cause irreparable harm to Apricot Lane. This obligation to protect Trade Secrets continues indefinitely, as long as the information remains a Trade Secret.