What is the Individual prohibited from doing with Checkers' Confidential Information?
Checkers Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
nowledged by me as) Confidential Information for the purposes of this Agreement, except information which I can demonstrate came to my attention before disclosure or which had become or becomes a part of the public domain through publication or communication by others (unless the publication or communication violates a similar confidentiality agreement), but in no event through any act of mine.
I specifically understand that, without limitation, all the above items, concepts, and/or examples contained in the preceding paragraph constitute Confidential Information of Franchisor, and I will not divert any business to competitors of Franchisee and/or Franchisor. I will at no time copy, duplicate, record or otherwise reproduce any of the Confidential Information or material containing it, in whole or in part, store them in a computer retrieval or database, nor otherwise make the them available to any unauthorized person.
I further agree that, during the term of my employment/service/association or ownership participation, I will not, directly or indirectly, engage or participate in any Competitive Business (defined below in this paragraph), any of which such prohibited behavior I understand and hereby explicitly acknowledge would or could be injurious to, or (in Franchisor's sole judgment) have an adverse effect upon, Franchisor's protectable interests in the Confidential Information, the "Checkers" trademark, or the goodwill and/or reputation of Restaurants generally. I agree that I am prohibited from engaging in any Competitive Business as a proprietor, partner, investor, shareholder, director, officer, employee, principal, agent, advisor, or consultant. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Competitive Business" means any business that: (i) operates as a restaurant or similar food-service provider and derives more than twenty percent (20%) of its revenue from selling hamburgers, cheeseburgers and hot dogs in a fast-food, quick-service, drive-thru or drive-in format; or (ii) grants franchises or licenses to others to operate the type of business specified in the preceding subparagraph (i) (other than a "Checkers" or "Rally's"branded restaurant operated under a franchise agreement with Franchisor). Despite the foregoing definition of a Competitive Business, nothing under this Agreement or the Franchise Agreement will prevent Individual from owning for investment purposes less than five percent (5%) of a Competitive Business whose stock or other forms of ownership interest are publicly traded on a recognized United States stock exchange, and so long as neither Individual nor Franchisee controls the company in question.
Upon the expiration or other termination for any reason of my employment, association, service or ownership participation, I agree:
(i) to return immediately to Franchisor or Franchisee, as the case may be, all Confidential Information, and any material(s) containing a subset thereof, in my possession that was utilized, or to which I had access,
- during my employment, association, service or ownership participation;
- (ii) to refrain, beginning upon such expiration or termination and forever thereafter, from any and all contacts with customers of Restaurants for any purpose whatsoever; and
- (iii) for a period of two (2) years, starting on the effective date of termination or expiration of my employment/service/association or ownership participation, to refrain from directly or indirectly (such as through any one or more of my spouse, legally-recognized domestic partner, parents, children or sibling(s) (collectively, "Immediate Family")) owning a legal or beneficial interest in, or render services or give advice to: (a) any Competitive Business operating at the Premises or within a three (3)-mile radius of the Premises; (b) any Competitive Business operating within a radius of three (3) miles of any Restaurant in operation or under construction on the effective date of termination or expiration of my employment/service/association/ ownership participation; or (c) any entity which grants franchises, licenses or other interests to others to operate any Competitive Business.
I acknowledge and understand that the provisions of this Agreement, including my representations, covenants, and warranties (as applicable) given hereunder, are necessary and integral to this Agreement and to Franchisor's and Franchisee's interests under the Franchise Agreement, and are intended to:
- (i) preclude not only direct competition, but also all forms of indirect competition, such as consultation for Competitive Businesses, service as an independent contractor for Competitive Businesses, or any assistance or transmission of information of any kind which would be of any material assistance to a competitor;
- (ii) bind any person or entity having any legal or beneficial interest in me, or traceable to, down or through me, including (without limitation) any of member of my Immediate Family, any direct or indirect beneficiary, any partner (general or limited) or proprietor of mine, and any other such related person or entity, regardless of how many levels or tiers there may be between any such described person or entity and me;
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 91–92)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Checkers' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, an individual is prohibited from certain actions regarding the company's confidential information. Specifically, the individual cannot divert business to Checkers' competitors, nor can they copy, duplicate, record, or reproduce any confidential information. This extends to storing such information in a computer retrieval system or database, or making it available to any unauthorized person.
During the term of employment, service, association, or ownership participation, the individual is prohibited from engaging or participating in any competitive business, which could be detrimental to Checkers' interests in its confidential information, trademarks, or the goodwill and reputation of its restaurants. This includes acting as a proprietor, partner, investor, shareholder, director, officer, employee, principal, agent, advisor, or consultant for a competitive business. A competitive business is defined as one that operates as a restaurant deriving more than 20% of its revenue from selling hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and hot dogs in a fast-food format, or one that grants franchises or licenses to others to operate such a business.
Upon termination of employment, association, service, or ownership participation, the individual must cease using all confidential information and return all copies of the Operations Manual and any other confidential materials. They must also discontinue any mode of communication on the Internet related to the franchised restaurant and transfer any associated domain names to Checkers. Furthermore, they must cease using all computer software licensed by Checkers or its affiliates and comply with obligations under any software license agreements. For a period of two years after termination, the individual is prohibited from owning or rendering services to a competitive business operating at the premises, within a three-mile radius of the premises, or within a three-mile radius of any Checkers or Rally's restaurant.
These restrictions are in place to protect Checkers' legal interest in its system, customers, and the goodwill associated with its trademarks. The non-competition covenants are considered necessary for this protection and are an integral part of the franchise agreement. Violation of these covenants could result in immediate and irreparable injury to Checkers, allowing them to seek an injunction to prohibit any conduct in violation of the terms.