What is the purpose of restricting use, access, and dissemination of Dryject's Trade Secrets?

According to the 2025 Dryject Franchise Disclosure Document, restricting the use, access, and dissemination of Dryject's trade secrets is important to both Dryject and its franchisees. Dryject's trade secrets provide economic advantages and are not generally known by competitors. These trade secrets include trade names, trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, slogans, sales and marketing procedures, knowledge and procedures for providing natural grass aeration services, and management and financial control methods. Dryject takes reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of these trade secrets.

The Franchise Agreement grants franchisees a limited right to operate a franchised business using the Dryject system and trade secrets. Franchisees must agree to protect Dryject's trade secrets. This includes ensuring that anyone who gains access to the trade secrets, such as employees or contractors, also agrees to keep the information confidential. These individuals must use the trade secrets only for the benefit of the franchisee's Dryject business.

To protect the goodwill and unique qualities of the Dryject system, franchisees and their employees or contractors typically sign agreements that include non-disclosure, non-solicitation, and non-competition clauses. These agreements ensure that even after leaving the Dryject system, individuals with knowledge of the trade secrets will not use that information to compete with Dryject. This helps maintain the value and competitive edge of the Dryject franchise system.