Who owns the Confidential Information related to the Belocal franchise?
Belocal Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
"Confidential Information" means information and know-how, oral, visual or written, and documents relating to Franchisor, its affiliate, the Franchised Business, and any publication furnished by Franchisor or its affiliates, or representatives of Franchisor, to Franchisee. Franchisor's Confidential Information includes, without limitation, all trademarks, trade names, service marks, emblems, and indicia of origin used by Franchisor in connection with the operation of the Franchised Business, and all trade secrets or know-how, including, but not limited to, research, plans, products, services, customer lists, supplier information, advertisers, business plans, marketing data and materials, software, electronic code, forms, processes, methods of operation, strategic information, financial information, manuals, and other business information disclosed to Franchisee by Franchisor or its representatives, as well as any data stored on or within the IT Systems.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 71)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Belocal's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor owns the confidential information related to the Belocal franchise. The FDD defines "Confidential Information" as information and know-how, whether oral, visual, or written, and documents relating to Belocal, its affiliates, the Franchised Business, and any publication furnished by Belocal or its affiliates, or representatives of Belocal, to the franchisee.
Belocal's Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, all trademarks, trade names, service marks, emblems, and indicia of origin used by Belocal in connection with the operation of the Franchised Business. It also encompasses all trade secrets or know-how, including research, plans, products, services, customer lists, supplier information, advertisers, business plans, marketing data and materials, software, electronic code, forms, processes, methods of operation, strategic information, financial information, manuals, and other business information disclosed to the franchisee by Belocal or its representatives, as well as any data stored on or within the information technology systems of Belocal or any of its affiliates.
This means that as a Belocal franchisee, you are granted access to this confidential information for the limited purpose of operating your franchise. You are obligated to protect this information and use it only in connection with your Belocal franchise. Upon termination or transfer of the franchise agreement, all confidential information and copies thereof must be promptly returned to Belocal. Any unauthorized use, copying, or disclosure of this information could lead to termination of the franchise agreement.