Is a Beggars Pizza franchisee allowed to disclose the contents of the manuals during the term of the Franchise Agreement?

According to the 2025 Beggars Pizza Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are generally prohibited from disclosing the contents of the Manuals. Beggars Pizza considers the contents of its manuals and other information to be trade secrets and confidential. Franchisees must use their best efforts to prevent any unauthorized disclosure or use of this information during and after the term of the Franchise Agreement. This restriction is typical in franchising, as it protects the franchisor's proprietary system and methods.

However, there is an exception to this rule. The Franchise Agreement does not prevent a franchisee from disclosing Confidential Information directly to federal or state governmental authorities if it is necessary to report potential violations of applicable law or to assist in governmental investigative, enforcement, or oversight efforts. This exception is included to ensure compliance with laws and regulations and to allow franchisees to report any illegal activities without fear of retribution from the franchisor.

This means that while franchisees must maintain the confidentiality of the Beggars Pizza system and its operational details, they are also protected if they need to disclose information to government authorities for legal or investigative purposes. Prospective franchisees should understand the scope of this confidentiality agreement and the exceptions to it, as it governs how they can use and share information related to the Beggars Pizza franchise.