Does Jersey Mikes own or license any patents or copyrights related to the franchise?
Jersey_Mikes Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
OPRIETARY INFORMATION
Patents and Copyrights
Company owns no rights in or licenses to any pending patent applications, special patents or copyrights which pertain to the franchise. If it becomes advisable at any time in the sole discretion of Company to acquire a patent or copyright, you must use this patent or copyright as required by Company.
Company claims common law rights and copyright protection for its Confidential Operations Manual, the agreements, training materials and other documents used with the offer, sale and operation of JERSEY MIKE'S franchises.
Proprietary Information
Your entire knowledge of the operation of a JERSEY MIKE'S Restaurant, including the knowledge or know-how regarding the specifications, standards and operating procedures of a JERSEY MIKE'S Restaurant is derived from information disclosed to you by Company, and certain of this information is proprietary, confidential and a trade secret of Company. You will maintain the absolute confidentiality of all proprietary information during and after the term of the Franchise Agreement and will not use any of this information in any other business or in any manner not specifically authorized or approved in writing by Company.
You will divulge confidential information only to your employees who must have access to it in order to operate the Franchised Restaurant. Any information, knowledge and know-how, including drawings, materials, equipment, techniques, restaurant systems, product formulae, recipes, methods, procedures and other data (including customer data) will be deemed confidential for pur poses of the Franchise Agreement, except information which you can demonstrate came to your attention, had become a part of the public domain, through publication or communication by others; or which, after disclosure to you by Company, becomes a part of the public domain, through publication or communication by others, so long a s such disclosure was not caused by you. Company is the sole owner of all confidential information.
All your employees having access to confidential information, agreements or other proprietary information of Company will sign confidentiality with confidentiality obligations no less stringent than those contained in your Franchise Agreement. Company may seek equitable relief for any breach of the terms of Sections 6, 7 and 8 of the Franchise Agreement.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 55–56)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Jersey Mike's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Jersey Mike's does not own or license any patents related to the franchise. However, Jersey Mike's claims common law rights and copyright protection for its Confidential Operations Manual, agreements, training materials, and other documents used in the offer, sale, and operation of its franchises. This means that while Jersey Mike's doesn't hold registered patents, it asserts legal rights over its operational and training materials. If Jersey Mike's decides to acquire a patent or copyright in the future, franchisees would be required to use it as directed by the company.
Jersey Mike's also considers the knowledge of operating a Jersey Mike's Restaurant, including specifications, standards, and operating procedures, as proprietary, confidential, and a trade secret. Franchisees are obligated to maintain the confidentiality of this information during and after the franchise term, and they can only share it with employees who need access to it for restaurant operations. This extends to drawings, materials, equipment, techniques, restaurant systems, product formulae, recipes, methods, procedures, and customer data.
All employees with access to confidential information must sign confidentiality agreements with obligations no less stringent than those in the Franchise Agreement. Jersey Mike's can seek legal remedies for any breach of these confidentiality terms. This underscores the importance of protecting Jersey Mike's proprietary information and the potential legal consequences of unauthorized disclosure or use.