What is the franchisee required to do with Buff City Soap's Customer Data?
Buff_City_Soap Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We own certain proprietary information that constitutes trade secrets that you may use in the operation of your Makery, which includes, without limitation, the Standards; the Manuals; any components and ingredients, formulae and formulations applicable to Products; our or our affiliate's product and raw materials sourcing, pricing, manufacturing, inventory management and control, supply and distribution; technology, point of sale, and related computer software; advertising, marketing and promotional programs including gift card, loyalty and customer reward programs; Customer Data; financial data and statements; training and operational methodology content (including without limitation inventory and financial controls) and management programs; and any other information or data regarding the business of us or any of our affiliates that would reasonably be considered the proprietary or confidential information of us or our affiliates. You will have the right to use the proprietary information contained in the Manuals. Although we have not (yet) registered our copyright in the Manuals, we do claim copyrights in them, and the information contained in them does constitute proprietary information. You must protect our proprietary information from unauthorized use and disclosure and must require your Operator and General Manager to sign confidentiality agreements in the form we require, as detailed in Item 15. You must tell us promptly when you learn about any unauthorized use of the Manuals, or the information contained in it. We have no obligation to take any action in that event; however, we will respond as we consider appropriate.
Source: Item 13 — TRADEMARKS (FDD pages 46–48)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Buff City Soap Franchise Disclosure Document, Customer Data is considered proprietary information of Buff City Soap. As a franchisee, you have the right to use this proprietary information, which includes Customer Data, in the operation of your Makery. However, you are obligated to protect this information from unauthorized use and disclosure.
To ensure the protection of this information, Buff City Soap requires that both the Operator and General Manager of the franchise sign confidentiality agreements. These agreements are in a form required by Buff City Soap, as detailed further in Item 15 of the FDD.
Furthermore, the franchisee must promptly inform Buff City Soap upon learning of any unauthorized use of the Customer Data. While Buff City Soap is not obligated to take any specific action in response to such unauthorized use, they will respond as they deem appropriate. This means that franchisees play a crucial role in safeguarding Buff City Soap's proprietary information and must remain vigilant in preventing any potential breaches or misuse of Customer Data.