What is the Bang Cookies franchisee's obligation regarding the use of Confidential Information?
Bang_Cookies Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
Franchisee agrees that, at all times, both during the Term of this Agreement and, after its expiration or termination, Franchisee: (a) shall not use the Confidential Information in any business or capacity other than the Bang Cookies Shop operated by Franchisee; (b) shall maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information at all times; (c) shall not make unauthorized copies of documents containing any Confidential Information; (d) shall take such reasonable steps as Franchisor may ask of Franchisee from time to time to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of the Confidential Information; and (e) shall stop using the Confidential Information immediately upon the expiration, termination or Transfer of this Agreement. Franchisee agrees that the foregoing covenants and obligations shall also apply to: (a) Franchisee's Owners and Spouses and that Franchisee's Owners and Spouses shall each execute and deliver to Franchisor the Franchise Owner and Spouse Agreement and Guaranty in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit 1; and (b) Franchisee's directors, officers, employees and agents where disclosure of the Confidential Information was necessary for the operations of the Franchised Business and where such director, officer, employee and/or agent previously executed and timely delivered to Franchisor the Confidentiality Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit 2.
Franchisee agrees that with regard to the Franchised Business, all customer lists, including the contents and information contained in all customer lists, constitute Confidential Information and an asset of Franchisor whether or not such information was supplied by Franchisor. During the Term, and in connection with the development, establishment, marketing, promotion and operation of the Franchised Business, Franchisee shall disclose to Franchisor all of Franchisee's ideas, concepts, methods, and products conceived or developed by Franchisee, any Owner, and/or Franchisee's affiliates, officers, directors, shareholders, partners, agents, members, representatives, independent contractors, servants and employees relating to the development and operation of Bang Cookies Shops and the System. Franchisee hereby assigns to Franchisor, and Franchisee agrees to procure an assignment of any such ideas, concepts, methods, and products that Franchisee is required to disclose to Franchisor under this Article 11.F. from each Owner and Franchisee's affiliates, officers, directors, shareholders, partners, agents, members, representatives, independent contractors, servants and employees. Franchisor shall have no obligation to tender any lump sum payment, on-going payments, or any other consideration to Franchisee, any Owner, each Owner and Franchisee's affiliates, officers, directors, shareholders, partners, agents, members, representatives, independent contractors, servants and employees with respect to any such idea, concept, method, technique or product. Franchisee agrees that Franchisee shall not use, or allow any other person or entity to use, any such concept, method, technique, or product without obtaining Franchisor's prior written approval.
- (p) Franchisee fails, upon receiving actual or constructive notice, shall: (1) immediately notify Franchisor of any known breach of the Confidentiality Agreement by any person or entity; (2) immediately notify Franchisor of facts and information that would cause a reasonable person
"Confidential Information" refers to and means all of Franchisor's and Franchisor's affiliates trade secrets, methods, standards, techniques, procedures, data and information, as same may exist as of the Effective Date of this Agreement and as same may be developed, modified and supplemented in the future, constituting and comprising: (a) methods, specifications, standards, policies, procedures, information, concepts, programs and systems relating to the development, establishment, marketing, promotion and operation of Bang Cookies Shops; (b) information concerning consumer preferences for services, products, materials and supplies used or sold by Bang Cookies Shops, and specifications for and knowledge of suppliers of inventory, equipment, products, supplies and procedures used or sold by Bang Cookies Shops; (c) information concerning customers, customer lists, email lists, database lists, product sales, operating results, financial performance and other financial data of Bang Cookies Shops; (d) Business Management System Data; (e) current and future information contained in the operations manual; and (f) Know-How.
Upon expiration, termination, or Transfer of this Agreement for any reason, Franchisee shall immediately:
- (3) Permanently cease to use, in any manner: (a) the System including, without limitation, the Confidential Information, the Licensed Marks, the Business Management System Data, and the operations manual; (b) any methods, procedures, or techniques associated with the System in which Franchisor possesses proprietary rights or constitute Franchisor's trade secrets
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 56–245)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Bang Cookies' 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees have specific obligations regarding confidential information, both during the term of the franchise agreement and after its expiration or termination. Franchisees must not use confidential information in any business other than their Bang Cookies shop. They are required to maintain the confidentiality of this information at all times and prevent unauthorized copies of documents containing confidential information. Franchisees must also take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure, as directed by Bang Cookies. Upon expiration, termination, or transfer of the agreement, the franchisee must immediately stop using the confidential information. These obligations extend to the franchisee's owners, spouses, directors, officers, employees, and agents, who may also be required to sign confidentiality agreements. Customer lists are specifically identified as confidential information and an asset of Bang Cookies.
Bang Cookies defines "Confidential Information" broadly to include trade secrets, methods, standards, techniques, procedures, data, and information related to the Bang Cookies shops' development, marketing, and operation. This includes consumer preferences, supplier information, customer data, Business Management System Data, the operations manual, and Know-How. The franchise agreement also states that the franchisee must disclose to Bang Cookies any ideas, concepts, methods, and products they develop related to Bang Cookies shops and the System. These must be assigned to Bang Cookies, who has no obligation to provide compensation for them, and the franchisee cannot use them without prior written approval.
Furthermore, the Bang Cookies franchisee must notify the franchisor immediately of any known or suspected breach of the Confidentiality Agreement and take reasonable steps to prevent any person or entity from violating the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement and/or otherwise publicly disseminating Confidential Information. Failure to comply with these obligations can result in a breach of the franchise agreement. Upon termination of the franchise agreement, the franchisee must cease using all confidential information and any methods or techniques associated with the Bang Cookies system.