What is the definition of 'confidential information' for Dq Treat managers?

According to the 2025 Dq Treat FDD, confidential information includes the methods, techniques, formats, marketing and promotional techniques and procedures, specifications, information, recipes, the Operations Manual, systems, costs, and knowledge of and experience in the operation and franchising of DQ® restaurants that Dq Treat communicates to the franchisee or that the franchisee otherwise acquires in operating the Restaurant under the System.

Assistant Managers and Designated Managers must have access to confidential information to perform their duties in the day-to-day operations of the Dq Treat location. Dq Treat requires franchisees to ensure that any designated or assistant managers with access to confidential information abide by the confidentiality obligations in the franchise agreement. This means franchisees must take steps to ensure managers understand and adhere to these confidentiality terms.

The franchise agreement also specifies certain obligations regarding confidential information, including that the franchisee must not make unauthorized copies of confidential information, input confidential information into any open source artificial intelligence program, reverse engineer any of Dq Treat's proprietary products, and implement procedures to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information. The restrictions on disclosure do not apply if the franchisee is legally compelled to disclose the information in judicial or administrative proceedings, provided they make their best efforts to maintain confidentiality and give Dq Treat the opportunity to obtain a protective order.

Confidential information does not include information that is generally known to the public, unless the disclosure was deliberate or inadvertent by the franchisee or someone under obligation to keep the information confidential. This definition helps clarify the scope of what Dq Treat considers proprietary and protectable, and what a franchisee and their managers must keep secret.