Is a Del Taco franchisee allowed to copy or reproduce the Manuals, in whole or in part?
Del_Taco Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 9.2 Confidentiality of the Manuals. Franchisee shall at all times treat the Manuals, any other manuals created for or approved for use in the operation of the Restaurant, and the information contained therein, as confidential, and shall use best efforts to maintain such information as secret and confidential, protect it from viewing by others, and treat the Manuals with the same degree of care as it would treat its most highly confidential documents. Franchisee shall not at any time copy, duplicate, record, or otherwise reproduce the foregoing materials, in whole or in part, nor otherwise make the same available to any unauthorized person.
- 9.3 Protection of the Manuals. The Manuals shall at all times remain the sole property of Del Taco and shall at all times be kept in a secure place on the Restaurant premises. Franchisee shall ensure that the Manuals are kept current and up to date; and, in the event of any dispute as to the contents of the Manuals, the terms of the master copy of the Manuals maintained by Del Taco at Del Taco's home office shall be controlling.
- 9.4 Revisions to the Manuals. Del Taco may from time to time revise the contents of the Manuals, and Franchisee expressly agrees to make corresponding revisions to its copy of the Manuals and to comply with each new or changed standard immediately upon receipt of such revision.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 58–59)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Del Taco's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are explicitly prohibited from copying or reproducing the operations manuals. The FDD emphasizes the confidential nature of these manuals, requiring franchisees to treat them with the utmost care and protect them from unauthorized access. This restriction is in place to safeguard Del Taco's proprietary methods and maintain consistent brand standards across all franchise locations.
Del Taco provides franchisees with one electronic copy of the manuals for use during the term of the franchise agreement. These manuals, which may include videos and electronic bulletins, are considered the sole property of Del Taco. Franchisees must keep the manuals secure on the restaurant premises and ensure they are always up to date with the latest revisions issued by Del Taco.
The franchisor retains the right to revise the manuals periodically, and franchisees are obligated to implement these changes immediately. In case of any discrepancies, the master copy held by Del Taco at its headquarters will be the controlling version. This stringent control over the manuals reflects the importance Del Taco places on maintaining uniformity and protecting its operational methods.