Is the Canine Dimensions Manual considered proprietary and confidential?
Canine_Dimensions Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must establish and operate your Franchised Business in compliance with your Franchise Agreement and the standards and specifications contained in the confidential Manual ("Manual") loaned to you by us. We will communicate our standards and specifications to you in writing through the Manual.
Employee acknowledges and agrees that Employer is engaged in a highly competitive business and that Employer and Franchisor (as defined below) possess trade secrets, confidential and proprietary information (the "Confidential Information") which have been acquired, developed and maintained at considerable cost to Employer and Franchisor, which is not generally known outside the companies, and which, if disclosed to a competitor, would be harmful to Employer and/or Franchisor. For the purposes of this Agreement, "Franchisor" shall be defined to include Canine Dimensions Franchising, LLC, whose principal place of business is 23208 Sanabria Loop, Bonita Springs, Florida 34135. This Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to the following:
- d. any and all information contained in the Confidential Manual;
- e. all forms, instructions, processes, procedures, graphics, pictures, diagrams associated with operation of the Franchised Business;
Employee hereby agrees that at all times, both during Employee's employment and after the termination thereof (for whatever reason, and whether voluntary or not), Employee will maintain the secrecy and confidentiality of the Confidential Information and that he will not reveal, disclose, divulge or make known to any person or entity, or copy or use for his own account, any of the Confidential Information as defined above.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 26–27)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Canine Dimensions's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the manual provided to franchisees is considered confidential. The FDD states that Canine Dimensions possesses trade secrets, confidential, and proprietary information, which is not generally known outside the company. This information has been acquired, developed, and maintained at considerable cost and would be harmful if disclosed to a competitor.
The confidential information includes any and all information contained in the Confidential Manual, as well as all forms, instructions, processes, procedures, graphics, pictures, and diagrams associated with the operation of the franchised business. Franchisees are loaned the confidential manual and must operate their franchised business in compliance with the standards and specifications outlined within it.
This means that a prospective Canine Dimensions franchisee must understand that the contents of the manual are not to be shared with anyone outside of the franchise organization. This confidentiality extends both during the term of the franchise agreement and after its termination. Failure to maintain the secrecy of this information could result in legal action from Canine Dimensions.