To whom must a Bambu franchisee disclose inventions related to the shoppes and Bambū system?

According to Bambu's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee is required to disclose any inventions, preparation information, recipes, discoveries, improvements, creations, patents, copyrights, trademarks, and confidential information related to the shoppes and the Bambū system to Bambu. This obligation extends to inventions made solely, jointly, or commonly with others by the franchisee, its owners, officers, or employees. The franchisee must also promptly create a written record of these items.

This requirement ensures that Bambu maintains control over its intellectual property and system standards. Any enhancements or improvements to the Bambū system developed by the franchisee automatically become the property of Bambu. This includes assigning all proprietary rights, such as copyrights, to Bambu without additional compensation to the franchisee.

This clause is fairly standard in franchising, as franchisors need to protect their brand and operational methods. However, it's crucial for a prospective Bambu franchisee to understand that any creative work or improvements related to the Bambū system they develop will belong to Bambu. Franchisees should carefully consider this when investing in the franchise, as they will not retain ownership of any innovations they create for the business.