Who owns improvements made to the Confidential Information by a Beyond Juicery Eatery franchisee?

According to the 2025 Beyond Juicery Eatery Franchise Disclosure Document, any improvements made to the Confidential Information by a franchisee become the property of Beyond Juicery Eatery. The FDD specifies that all such improvements are to be considered Confidential Information. This means that any advancements, modifications, or enhancements a franchisee develops related to Beyond Juicery Eatery's existing confidential business information automatically belong to the franchisor.

This clause has significant implications for franchisees. While franchisees may innovate and improve upon the Beyond Juicery Eatery system, they do not retain ownership of those improvements. Beyond Juicery Eatery can then incorporate these improvements across the entire franchise system without compensating the originating franchisee. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as it allows the franchisor to maintain uniformity and control over the brand and operating system.

Furthermore, upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, the franchisee must return all Confidential Information, including any analyses, compilations, studies, or other documents containing or referring to the Confidential Information, along with all copies. This obligation extends to Principal Owners, Control Persons, Franchisee Designates, Managers, and employees, ensuring that all individuals associated with the franchise adhere to the confidentiality requirements and return all relevant materials to Beyond Juicery Eatery.