What is the employee's acknowledgement regarding the time and money spent developing Confidential Information for Azal Coffee?
Azal_Coffee Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
As an employee or trainee of the Company, I acknowledge that in the course of my employment by the Company and my training in the Azal Coffee Store systems of operation, I will have access to certain Confidential Information, as defined below, about the Company and the Franchisor's methods of establishing, developing, operating and maintaining Azal Coffee Stores that is confidential and not available to the public in general. I understand that the Company and the Franchisor have spent a great deal of time and money developing this Confidential Information and I acknowledge that the Company and the Franchisor's reasonable competitive business interests would be severely and irreparably damaged if the Confidential Information that has been (or may be) revealed to me were to be disclosed to any third person, become available to the public in general, or used by me to compete with the Company or the Franchisor or any of its affiliates or franchisees. I, therefore, agree that the Company and Franchisor have a need to protect the Company's and the Franchisor's valuable Confidential Information and I agree that in consideration of these factors, and in consideration of my employment or continuing employment with the Company and/or by training in the Azal Coffee systems of operation, I promise and agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement as follows:
- I agree not to directly or indirectly disclose to any individual, company, partnership, business, corporation, or any other entity ("person") or to use myself, any Confidential Information which I learn during my training and/or employment with the Company, except as necessary in the course of my employment with the Company. I agree that these restrictions will apply while I am in training or am employed by the Company and indefinitely after my training is completed or ends or my employment terminates or ends for any reason.
I agree to, at all times, keep the Confidential Information strictly confidential and maintain the secrecy of the Confidential Information. In particular, I will, at all times, keep all tangible forms of the Confidential Information that I have been entrusted with in a secure work area and safely locked away when not in use and will ensure that these items do not fall into the hands of unauthorized persons.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 51–204)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Azal Coffee's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, as part of their employment or training, employees acknowledge that they will have access to Confidential Information regarding the methods used to establish, develop, operate, and maintain Azal Coffee stores. This information is not available to the general public. Employees acknowledge that Azal Coffee and the Franchisor have invested significant time and money to develop this Confidential Information.
The employee acknowledges that if this Confidential Information were disclosed to third parties, made public, or used to compete with Azal Coffee, it would cause severe and irreparable damage to the company's competitive business interests. Therefore, the employee agrees that Azal Coffee and the Franchisor need to protect this valuable Confidential Information.
In consideration of their employment or training, the employee agrees to be bound by the terms of the agreement, promising not to disclose or use any Confidential Information learned during their training or employment, except as necessary for their job. These restrictions apply during training and employment and continue indefinitely after the training or employment ends for any reason. The employee also agrees to keep all Confidential Information strictly confidential, maintaining its secrecy and securing all tangible forms of the information in a safe work area, locked away when not in use, to prevent unauthorized access.