To whom can an Apricot Lane franchisee divulge confidential information related to the franchise?
Apricot_Lane Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
sure thereof by FRANCHISOR; or which, at the time of disclosure by FRANCHISOR to FRANCHISEE, had lawfully become publicly available, through publication or communication by others.
B. Use and Restrictions of Confidential Information
FRANCHISEE shall maintain the absolute confidentiality of all Confidential Information during and after the term of the franchise and shall not use any such Confidential Information in any other business or in any manner not specifically authorized or approved in writing by FRANCHISOR. FRANCHISEE shall divulge Confidential Information only to the extent and only to such of its employees as must have access to it in order to operate the Franchised Business.
C. FRANCHISEE's Employees
All employees of FRANCHISEE having access to the Confidential Information of FRANCHISOR shall be required to execute confidentiality agreements in a form acceptable to FRANCHISOR or as provided in the Confidential Operations Manual.
**D.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 51–222)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Apricot Lane's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must maintain the absolute confidentiality of all confidential information both during and after the franchise term. Franchisees are permitted to share confidential information only with their employees who require access to it in order to operate the franchised business.
Apricot Lane requires that all employees who have access to the franchisor's confidential information sign confidentiality agreements. These agreements must be in a form acceptable to Apricot Lane or as provided in the Confidential Operations Manual. This ensures that employees are legally bound to protect the confidential information they access.
Unauthorized disclosure or use of confidential information can lead to immediate legal action. Apricot Lane is entitled to equitable remedies, including restraining orders and injunctive relief, to protect its proprietary information. The FDD emphasizes that monetary damages alone may not be sufficient to compensate Apricot Lane for breaches of confidentiality, highlighting the critical importance of safeguarding this information.