What is the Fly Fitness franchisee's responsibility regarding the confidentiality of written directives from the franchisor?
Fly_Fitness Franchise · 2024 FDDAnswer from 2024 FDD Document
rademarks, including, the registered trademark "Fly Fitness" and design mark, and certain | | | proprietary products, services, promotions, | and methods (the "System") for the establishment and | | operation of Franchised Business outlets; | | WHEREAS, in connection with his or her duties, it will be necessary for Covenantor to have access to some or all of the confidential information, knowledge, know-how, techniques, contents of the Fly Fitness operations manual and other materials used in or related to the System and/or concerning the methods of operation of the System (collectively referred to as "Confidential Information").
WHEREAS, the Confidential Information provides economic advantages to Franchisor and licensed users of the System, including Franchisee;
WHEREAS, Franchisee has acknowledged the importance of restricting the use, access and dissemination of the Confidential Information, and Franchisee therefore has agreed to obtain from Covenantor a written agreement protecting the Confidential Information and further protecting the System against unfair competition; and
WHEREAS, Covenantor acknowledges that receipt of and the right to use the Confidential Information constitutes independent valuable consideration for the representations, promises and covenants made by Covenantor herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and obligations contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
1. Confidentiality Agreement.
- a. Covenantor shall, at all times, maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information and shall use such Confidential Information only in the course of his or her employment by or association with Franchisee in connection with the operation of a Franchised Business under the Franchise Agreement.
- b. Covenantor shall not at any time make copies of any documents or compilations containing some or all of the Confidential Information without Franchisor's express written permission.
- c. Covenantor shall not at any time disclose or permit the disclosure of the Confidential Information except, and only then to the limited extent necessary, to those employees of Franchisee for training and assisting such employees in the operation of the Franchised Business.
- d. Covenantor shall surrender any material containing some or all of the Confidential Information to Franchisee or Franchisor, upon request, or upon termination of employment or association with Franchisee.
- e. Covenantor shall not at any time, directly or indirectly, do any act or omit to do any act that would or would likely be injurious or prejudicial to the goodwill associated with the System.
- f. Covenantor agrees that no Confidential Information may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written consent.
2. Covenants Not to Compete.
- a. In order to protect the goodwill and unique qualities of the System, and in consideration for the disclosure to Covenantor of the Confidential Information, Covenantor further agrees and covenants that during Covenantor's employment or association with Franchisee, Covenantor shall not, for Covenantor or through, on behalf of or in conjunction with any person or entity:
- (i) divert, or attempt to divert, any business or customer of the Fly Fitness outlet or of other franchisees in the System to any competitor, by direct or indirect inducement or otherwise, and/or
- (ii) participate as an owner, partner, director, officer, employee, consultant, or agent or serve in any other capacity in any fitness or personal trainer business substantially similar to the System.
- b. In further consideration for the disclosure to Covenantor of the Confidential Information and to protect the goodwill and unique qualities of the System, Covenantor further agrees and covenants that, upon the termination of Covenantor's employment or association with Franchisee and continuing for twenty-four (24) months thereafter, Covenantor shall not, for Covenantor or through, on behalf of or in conjunction with any person or entity:
- (i) divert, or attempt to divert, any business or customer of the Franchised Business or of other franchisees in the Fly Fitness System to any competitor, by direct or indirect inducement or otherwise, and/or
- (ii) participate as an owner, partner, director, officer, employee, or consultant or serve in any other managerial, operational, or supervisory capacity in any fitness or personal trainer within the within ten (10) miles of Franchisee's Territory or any Fly Fitness location.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 44–45)
What This Means (2024 FDD)
According to Fly Fitness's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for ensuring that their employees, referred to as 'Covenantors,' maintain the confidentiality of the franchisor's confidential information. This includes information found in the Fly Fitness operations manual and other materials related to the System. The franchisee must obtain a written agreement from each Covenantor protecting this confidential information and safeguarding the System against unfair competition. This agreement acknowledges the value and importance of the confidential information to both Fly Fitness and the franchisee. The franchisee is responsible for ensuring the Covenantor adheres to the agreement.
The agreement stipulates that Covenantors must maintain the confidentiality of the information at all times and use it only for operating the Fly Fitness franchise. Covenantors are prohibited from making copies of confidential documents without Fly Fitness's express written permission. Disclosure of confidential information is limited to only those employees of the franchisee who need it for training and assisting in the operation of the franchised business. Upon request or termination of employment, Covenantors must return all materials containing confidential information to the franchisee or Fly Fitness.
Furthermore, Covenantors cannot take any actions that could harm the goodwill associated with the Fly Fitness System. They are prohibited from reproducing any confidential information without written consent. To protect the System's goodwill and unique qualities, Covenantors also agree not to divert business away from Fly Fitness or participate in similar fitness businesses during their employment and for 24 months after termination, within a 10-mile radius of the franchisee's territory or any Fly Fitness location. The franchisee is obligated to enforce these provisions and Fly Fitness is entitled to injunctive relief and specific performance in case of a breach, without needing to prove actual harm or provide a bond.