After the Hydrodog franchise agreement terminates, must the franchisee keep confidential information strictly confidential?
Hydrodog Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
s, and is disclosed to you only on the condition that you, your Owners, managers, employees and/or independent contractors who have access to it agree, and they do agree, that you and they:
- (a) Will not use any Confidential Information in any other business or capacity;
- (b) Will keep the Confidential Information strictly confidential during and indefinitely after this Agreement's term;
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 43–166)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Hydrodog's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must keep confidential information strictly confidential both during and indefinitely after the franchise agreement's term. The franchisee acknowledges that they will not acquire any interest in the confidential information, other than the right to use it while operating their Hydrodog business under the terms of the agreement. Using confidential information for purposes not expressly authorized by the agreement is considered an unfair method of competition.
Hydrodog considers its confidential information proprietary and includes its trade secrets. This information is disclosed to the franchisee only on the condition that they, their owners, managers, employees, and independent contractors agree to keep it strictly confidential. This obligation extends indefinitely beyond the termination of the franchise agreement.
Upon termination or expiration of the agreement, the franchisee must immediately stop using any of Hydrodog's confidential information in any business or otherwise. They must also return all copies of manuals and any other confidential materials that were loaned to them. This ensures that Hydrodog's proprietary information remains protected even after the franchise relationship ends.