Who benefits from a Bambu franchisee's approved changes or improvements to the Bambū system?
Bambu Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchisee's approved changes or improvements to the Bambū system or the Marks shall inure to the exclusive benefit of Bambu.
- 15.7 Creative Ownership.
All copyrightable or patentable works, and all discoveries, developments, designs, improvements, inventions or other information of a proprietary nature created by Franchisee or any of its owners, officers or employees in connection with the shoppe, including but not limited to any enhancements or improvements in the Bambū system, shall be the sole property of Bambu.
Franchisee shall assign, or cause its owner, officer or employee to assign, all proprietary rights, including copyrights, in these works to Bambu without additional consideration.
Franchisee hereby assigns and will execute (or will cause its owner, officer or employee to assign and execute) such additional assignments or documentation to effectuate the assignment of all intellectual property, inventions, drink and food item preparation information, recipes, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets developed in part or in whole in relation to the shoppe, during the term of this Agreement, as Bambu may deem necessary in order to enable it, at its expense, to apply for, prosecute and obtain copyrights, patents, trademarks or other proprietary rights in the United States and in foreign countries or in order to transfer to Bambu all right, title, and interest in said property.
Franchisee shall promptly disclose to Bambu all inventions, drink and food item preparation information, recipes, discoveries, improvements, creations, patents, copyrights, trademarks and confidential information relating to the shoppes and the Bambū system which it or any of its owners, officers or employees has made or may make solely, jointly or commonly with others and shall promptly create a written record of the same.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 52–209)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bambu's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, any approved changes or improvements a franchisee makes to the Bambū system will exclusively benefit Bambu. This means that if a franchisee develops a new method, design, or improvement related to the Bambū system and Bambu approves it, the rights to that innovation belong solely to Bambu.
This extends to all copyrightable or patentable works, discoveries, developments, designs, improvements, inventions, or other proprietary information created by the franchisee or their employees in connection with the shoppe. Specifically, any enhancements or improvements to the Bambū system become the sole property of Bambu.
The franchisee is required to assign all proprietary rights, including copyrights, to Bambu without receiving additional compensation. They must also execute any additional assignments or documentation necessary for Bambu to secure intellectual property rights, patents, trademarks, or trade secrets related to the shoppe. This includes information related to drink and food item preparation, recipes, and any other developments made during the term of the Franchise Agreement. Furthermore, the franchisee must promptly disclose all such creations and improvements to Bambu and maintain a written record of them.