Is a Cicis franchisee allowed to copy or reproduce the Manuals?
Cicis Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The Manuals and any passwords and access credentials are part of our Confidential Information (defined below) and must be protected against improper use and disclosure.
You may disclose the Manuals to your employees who need to know its contents provided they are themselves bound by written obligations of confidentiality.
You may not at any time copy, duplicate, record, or otherwise reproduce, distribute or publish any part of the Manuals or use its contents in any other business.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 64–65)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Cicis Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are restricted from copying, duplicating, or reproducing the Manuals in any form. The Manuals, which contain the System Standards and operating procedures, are considered Confidential Information and must be protected against improper use and disclosure.
The FDD specifies that franchisees may disclose the Manuals to their employees who need to know the contents, provided that these employees are bound by written confidentiality obligations. This ensures that the information is only shared with those directly involved in the operation of the Cicis restaurant and who have agreed to maintain its confidentiality.
This restriction is typical in franchising to protect the brand's proprietary information and maintain consistency across all franchise locations. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of the Manuals could compromise Cicis's operational standards and competitive advantage. Franchisees should ensure they and their employees comply with these confidentiality requirements to avoid breaching the franchise agreement.