Does the Boulder Designs franchisee receive compensation for ideas or materials developed that become the property of the franchisor?
Boulder_Designs Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
opyrights, trade dress, Trade Secrets, Confidential Information, System, methods, procedures or any other intellectual property rights that are a part of Franchisor's System.
Section 7.2 Additional Developments / Work Made for Hire
All ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques, advertising or materials concerning the System or developed, in whole or in part, using Trade Secrets or other Confidential Information, whether or not protectable intellectual property and whether created by or for Franchisee or its owners or employees, or other Covered
Persons, shall be promptly disclosed to Franchisor and shall be deemed the sole and exclusive property of Franchisor and works made-for-hire for Franchisor, and no compensation shall be due to Franchisee or its owners or employees therefore. Further, any advertising materials Franchise submits to Franchisor for review will become Franchisor's property, and Franchisor may use or distribute these materials in any manner Franchisor deems appropriate, without compensation to Franchisee. Franchisor has the right to incorporate such items into the System and/or disclose them to other franchisees and other persons or entities. To the extent any item does not qualify as a "work made for hire" for Franchisor, Franchisee shall assign, and by this Agreement, does assign, ownership of that item, and all related rights to that item, to Franchisor and shall sign any assignment or other document as Franchisor requests to assist Franchisor in obtaining or preserving intellectual property rights in the item. Franchisor shall disclose to Franchisee concepts and developments of other franchisees that are made part of the System. As Franchisor may request, Franchisee shall take all actions to assist Franchisor's efforts to obtain or maintain intellectual property rights in any item or process related to the System, whether developed by Franchisee or not.
Section 7.3 Exclusive Relationship
Franchisee acknowledges that Franchisor would be unable to protect the Trade Secrets and other Confidential Information against unauthorized use or disclosure and would be unable to encourage a free exchange of ideas and information among Boulder Designs franchisees if owners of BOULDER DESIGNS Businesses, and Covered Persons were permitted to hold an interest in or perform services for any Competitive Business. Therefore, during the term of this Agreement, neither Franchisee nor Covered Persons, either directly or indirectly, for themselves, or through, on behalf of or in conjunction with any person, partnership, corporation, Limited Liability Company or other business entity, shall:
- i. divert or attempt to divert any customer, employee or other business associate of the Franchised Business, Franchisor, its Affiliate(s) or any other franchisee to any Competitive Business or solicit or otherwise attempt to induce or influence any customer, employee or other business associate of any of the foregoing to terminate or modify his, her or its business relationship with the Franchised Business, Franchisor, its Affiliate(s) or any other franchisee, by direct or indirect inducement or otherwise, or do or perform, directly or indirectly, any other act injurious or prejudicial to the goodwill associated with the Marks or the System; or
- ii. own an interest in, manage, operate, or perform services for any Competitive Business wherever located.
- iii.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 50)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Boulder Designs Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees will not receive compensation for ideas or materials developed related to the Boulder Designs system. The FDD states that all ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques, advertising, or materials concerning the Boulder Designs system, especially those using trade secrets or confidential information, are the sole property of Boulder Designs. This applies whether these creations are protectable intellectual property or not, and regardless of whether they are created by or for the franchisee, their owners, or employees.
This policy extends to any advertising materials a Boulder Designs franchisee submits for review, which then become the property of Boulder Designs. Boulder Designs can use or distribute these materials as they see fit without compensating the franchisee. Boulder Designs has the right to incorporate these items into the Boulder Designs system and share them with other franchisees or entities.
The FDD also encourages franchisees to submit suggestions for improving the Boulder Designs system, including products, services, equipment, and advertising. However, it explicitly states that any suggestions made become Boulder Designs' exclusive property, and no compensation is owed to the franchisee if Boulder Designs implements the suggestion. This clause underscores that while Boulder Designs values franchisee input, it retains full ownership and control over any resulting improvements to the system without obligation to provide financial remuneration.