Does Bonchon hold any patents material to the franchise?

According to Bonchon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Bonchon does not hold any patents, nor does it have any pending patent applications that are material to the franchise. However, Bonchon does claim copyrights on certain software, forms, advertisements, promotional materials, the Bonchon Confidential Operations Manual, and the Recipe Manual.

Bonchon's lack of patents could mean that the core concepts of the Bonchon franchise are not protected by patents, which could allow competitors to more easily imitate aspects of the Bonchon business model. However, Bonchon does claim copyright on a number of items. These copyrights, along with trademark protections, are intended to protect the brand's unique identity and materials.

Prospective franchisees should be aware that while Bonchon does not rely on patents, they are obligated to protect Bonchon's confidential information. This includes not revealing any confidential information to another person or using it for any other person or business, and not copying any confidential information or giving it to a third party except as authorized. This obligation extends during the Initial Term, any Successor Term, or after the Franchise Agreement expires or is terminated.