factual

What constitutes 'Trade Secrets' for a Bumble Roofing franchise?

Bumble_Roofing Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

other financial data of Roofing Businesses and other related materials are proprietary and confidential ("Confidential Information") and are considered to be our property to be used by you only as described in the Franchise Agreement or the Operations Manual. Where appropriate, certain information has also been identified as trade secrets ("Trade Secrets"). The formulae for the products that we manufacture or have manufactured and carry the BUMBLE ROOFING® name constitute Trade Secrets. We will not disclose these formulae to you; we disclose them only to manufactures, suppliers and others with a need to know, and then only on receipt of a signed confidentiality agreement. You must maintain the confidentiality of our Confidential Information and Trade Secrets and adopt reasonable procedures to prevent unauthorized disclosure of our Trade Secrets and Confidential Information.

We will disclose parts of the Confidential Information and Trade Secrets to you as we deem necessary or advisable for the development of your Roofing Business during training and in guidance and assistance furnished to you under the Franchise Agreement, and you may learn or obtain from us additional Confidential Information and Trade Secrets during the term of the Franchise Agreement. The Confidential Information and Trade Secrets are valuable assets of ours and are disclosed to you on the condition that you, and your owners, if you are a business entity, and employees agree to maintain the information in confidence by entering into a confidentiality agreement that we can enforce. Nothing contained in the Franchise Agreement will be construed to prohibit you from using the Confidential Information or Trade Secrets in the operation of other Roofing Business during the term of the Franchise Agreement.

You must notify us within 3 days after you learn about another's use of language, a visual image, or a recording of any kind, that you perceive to be identical or substantially similar to one of our Copyright Works or use of our Confidential Information or Trade Secrets or if someone challenges your use of our Copyright Works, Confidential Information or Trade Secrets. We or our affiliates will take whatever action we deem appropriate, in our sole and absolute discretion, to protect our rights in and to the Copyright Works, Confidential Information or Trade Secrets, which may include payment of reasonable costs associated with the action. However, the Franchise Agreement does not require us to take affirmative action in response to any apparent infringement of or challenge to your use of any Copyright Works, Confidential Information or Trade Secrets or claim by any person of any rights in any Copyright Works, Confidential Information or Trade Secrets. You must not directly or indirectly contest our rights to any of our Copyright Works, Confidential Information or Trade Secrets. You may not communicate with anyone except us and our counsel with respect to any infringement, challenge or claim. We will have discretion to take action as we deem appropriate regarding any infringement, challenge or claim, and the sole right to control exclusively any litigation or other proceeding arising out of any infringement, challenge or claim under any Copyright Works, Confidential Information or Trade Secrets. You must sign any and all instruments and documents, give the assistance, and do acts and things that may, in the opinion of our counsel, be necessary to protect and maintain our interests in any litigation or proceeding or to protect and maintain our interests in the Copyright Works, Confidential Information or Trade Secrets. If we require you to modify or discontinue any Copyright Works, Confidential Information or Trade Secrets, you must do so at your own expense.

Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 40–42)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to Bumble Roofing's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Trade Secrets include the formulae for the products that Bumble Roofing manufactures or has manufactured and which carry the Bumble Roofing name. These formulae are not disclosed to franchisees but are shared with manufacturers, suppliers, and others who need to know the information, provided they sign a confidentiality agreement.

Bumble Roofing considers its Trade Secrets valuable assets and will disclose parts of them to franchisees as deemed necessary for the development of their roofing business during training and ongoing support. Franchisees, their owners (if the franchisee is a business entity), and employees must agree to maintain the confidentiality of Trade Secrets by entering into a confidentiality agreement that Bumble Roofing can enforce.

Franchisees are required to notify Bumble Roofing within 3 days if they become aware of any unauthorized use of their Trade Secrets. Bumble Roofing has the sole discretion to take action to protect its Trade Secrets, and franchisees must assist in these efforts. Franchisees are prohibited from contesting Bumble Roofing's rights to its Trade Secrets and must follow Bumble Roofing's instructions regarding any necessary modifications or discontinuation of their use.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.