For how long after the termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement am I obligated to disclose ideas related to Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant to Aw?
Aw Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
In addition, in the course of the operation of the Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant, and for six (6) months after the termination or expiration of this Agreement, you or your employees may develop ideas, inventions, formulas, concepts, methods, techniques or improvements relating to the Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant, which you agree to disclose to us and which we may then authorize you to use in the operation of the Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant. You agree that any corresponding intellectual property rights (including without limitation any rights in utility or design patents, know-how, trade secrets, trademarks, services marks and copyrights) in such ideas, inventions, formulas, concepts, methods, techniques or improvements will be our property and the title and rights to which shall be legally assigned to us immediately in writing by you, your Owners, your managers and/or employees. All of such information developed by you or your employees will be included in the term "Confidential Information," as defined above.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 39–40)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Aw's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, for six months after the termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement, franchisees are obligated to disclose to Aw any ideas, inventions, formulas, concepts, methods, techniques, or improvements related to the Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant. This obligation extends not only to the franchisee but also to their employees.
This means that if a franchisee or their employees develop any innovations related to the Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant system during the franchise term or within six months after the agreement ends, they must inform Aw. Aw then has the option to authorize the franchisee to use these innovations in their Papa Ray's Pizza Restaurant.
Importantly, any intellectual property rights associated with these developments, such as patents, trade secrets, trademarks, or copyrights, automatically become the property of Aw. The franchisee, along with their owners, managers, and employees, must legally assign these rights to Aw in writing. This information is also considered "Confidential Information," which carries further obligations regarding its use and protection, as outlined in the franchise agreement.