How are confidential materials defined for a Cinnaholic franchise?
Cinnaholic Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
r information we create or use. We have not registered any of these copyrighted materials with the United States Registrar of Copyrights, although we may do so. We also treat all of this information as trade secrets.
All materials or information of any kind that are designated "confidential" orally or in writing or which, under the circumstances surrounding disclosure, ought to be treated as confidential, are deemed confidential and are loaned to you only under and during the term of the Franchise Agreement and Development Agreement. All confidential materials and the information contained in them must be treated by you as confidential and you must use your best efforts to keep them confidential during and after the terms of the Franchise Agreement and Development Agreement as provided in each agreement. This means that you cannot make copies in any medium of any confidential information or use any confidential information outside of the scope of the Franchise Agreement or Development Agreement or disclose any confidential information to any third party or other persons identified by us as not having authorization to receive disclosure of confidential information. You may disclose confidential information contained in the Operations Manual only to your employees who have a business need to have access to the confidential information, but only if you first secure from them an agreement to maintain the confidentiality of the confidential information disclosed.
All copyrighted materials and confidential information are owned exclusively by us. Your right to use copyrighted materials and confidential information is derived solely from the Franchise Agreement and Development Agreement and is limited to the conduct of the business under and in compliance with the Franchise Agreement and Development Agreement and all applicable specifications, standards, and operating procedures we prescribe during the term of the Franchise Agreement and Development Agreement. Any unauthorized use of our copyrighted materials or any unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information will constitute an infringement of our rights in and to the copyrighted materials and confidential information.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 39–40)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cinnaholic's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, confidential materials encompass any information designated as such, either orally or in writing, or any information that should reasonably be considered confidential given the circumstances of its disclosure. These materials are provided to the franchisee solely for use during the term of the Franchise Agreement and Development Agreement.
Cinnaholic franchisees are obligated to treat these materials as confidential, employing their best efforts to maintain confidentiality both during and after the agreement terms. This includes restrictions on copying, using the information outside the scope of the agreements, or disclosing it to unauthorized third parties. Franchisees may only share confidential information from the Operations Manual with employees who have a legitimate business need for it, and only after securing an agreement from those employees to maintain its confidentiality.
All copyrighted materials and confidential information remain the exclusive property of Cinnaholic. The franchisee's right to use these materials is strictly limited to operating the business in compliance with the Franchise Agreement, Development Agreement, and all prescribed specifications, standards, and operating procedures. Unauthorized use or disclosure of these materials constitutes an infringement of Cinnaholic's rights. The franchisee must also promptly notify Cinnaholic of any unauthorized use or challenges to the use or ownership of copyrighted materials or confidential information.