What are Gold Star franchisees obligated to do regarding Privacy Laws?
Gold_Star Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 10.5 Privacy Laws.
In addition to FRANCHISEE's obligations under Section 5.13, FRANCHISEE will comply with all applicable Privacy Laws (as defined below), comply with all System Standards that apply to Privacy Laws, and refrain from any act or omission that could cause the COMPANY to breach any Privacy Laws (as defined below) with respect to the Communication and Information System or otherwise.
For the purpose of this Agreement, "Personal Information" shall mean any information that can be used (alone or in combination with other information which one controls) to identify, locate or contact an individual or otherwise pertains in any way to an identified or identifiable individual, regardless of the medium of such information, and "Privacy Laws" shall mean any international, national, federal, provincial, state or local law, code, rule or regulation that regulates the processing of Personal Information in any way, including data protection laws, laws regulating marketing or communications and/or electronic communications, information security regulations and security breach notification laws.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 53–163)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Gold Star's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees have specific obligations regarding privacy laws. Gold Star franchisees must comply with all applicable Privacy Laws, adhere to all System Standards related to Privacy Laws, and avoid any actions that could cause Gold Star to breach these Privacy Laws, especially concerning the Communication and Information System. These obligations are in addition to those outlined in Section 5.13 of the franchise agreement.
The franchise agreement defines "Personal Information" as any data that can identify, locate, or contact an individual, regardless of the medium. "Privacy Laws" encompass a wide range of international, national, federal, state, and local laws, codes, rules, and regulations governing the processing of Personal Information. This includes data protection laws, regulations on marketing, communications, electronic communications, information security regulations, and security breach notification laws.
This means a Gold Star franchisee must stay informed about and adhere to the latest privacy regulations, which can be complex and vary by jurisdiction. They must also implement and maintain systems and practices that protect personal information, and ensure that their actions do not put Gold Star at risk of violating any privacy laws. This could involve training staff, updating software, and regularly reviewing privacy policies and procedures. Failing to comply with these obligations could result in legal and financial repercussions for the franchisee.