Does Card My Yard have any pending patent applications material to the franchise?

According to Card My Yard's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Card My Yard does not own any patents, nor do they have any pending patent applications that are material to the franchise. However, Card My Yard does claim copyright protection and proprietary rights in the original materials used in their system. These materials include manuals, bulletins, correspondence and communications with franchisees, training, advertising and promotional materials, and other written materials related to the operation of Card My Yard businesses and the Business System. Card My Yard treats all of this information as trade secrets, requiring franchisees to maintain confidentiality.

This means that while franchisees don't need to worry about patent-related issues, they must protect Card My Yard's copyrighted and proprietary materials. Franchisees and their personnel are obligated to keep confidential all information contained in the manuals and other materials that Card My Yard considers confidential, proprietary, or trade secret. This includes trade secrets, elements of the system, training techniques, financial information, customer and vendor information, marketing strategies and data, and any other knowledge related to the operation of a Card My Yard business.

The Franchise Agreement stipulates that franchisees and their personnel must not disclose or use Card My Yard's confidential information for the benefit of others during and after the term of the agreement. This confidentiality extends even after the termination or expiration of the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees are only allowed to share this information with employees who need it to operate the Card My Yard business, and these employees must also sign similar confidentiality agreements.

Given this emphasis on confidentiality and proprietary rights, prospective franchisees should carefully review Item 14 of the FDD and the Franchise Agreement to fully understand their obligations regarding Card My Yard's intellectual property. Understanding these requirements is crucial for maintaining a successful and compliant franchise operation.