Is Noodles & Company obligated by any agreement to protect or defend copyrights or confidential information?
Noodles_Company Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Except as discussed in the following paragraph, we do not own any patents, patent applications or copyrights that are material to the franchise.
We claim copyright protection for our Noodles & Company Operations Manual; printed advertising and promotional materials; certain plans and specifications for the design, layout and development of Noodle & Company restaurants (and any modifications you make to those plans), product specifications, computer programs, training materials, newsletters, and other operations and accounting materials and forms.
We also consider certain information used in the development and operations of Noodles & Company restaurants, trade secrets and proprietary information. This information includes, but is not limited to:
- (1) ingredients, recipes and methods of preparation and presentation of certain food products;
- (2) site selection criteria for Noodles & Company restaurants and plans and specifications for the development of Noodles & Company restaurants;
- (3) sales, marketing and advertising programs and techniques for Noodles & Company restaurants;
- (4) identity of suppliers and knowledge of specifications, processes, procedures and equipment, and pricing for authorized food products, materials, supplies and equipment;
- (5) knowledge of operating results and financial performance of Noodles & Company restaurants, other than your own Noodles & Company restaurants;
- (6) methods of inventory control, storage, product handling, food cost and management of Noodles & Company restaurants;
- (7) computer systems and software programs; and
- (8) other information and specifications related to the development and operation of Noodles & Company restaurants that are included in the Noodles & Company Operations Manual and in other materials that we provide to you.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 58–60)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Noodles & Company's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Noodles & Company does not own any patents, patent applications, or copyrights that are material to the franchise, except as discussed in the FDD. However, Noodles & Company claims copyright protection for its Operations Manual, advertising materials, restaurant design plans, product specifications, computer programs, training materials, newsletters, and other operational and accounting materials.
Noodles & Company considers certain information used in the development and operations of its restaurants as trade secrets and proprietary information. This includes ingredients, recipes, preparation methods, site selection criteria, restaurant development plans, sales, marketing and advertising programs, supplier identities, knowledge of specifications, processes, procedures and equipment, pricing for authorized food products, materials, supplies and equipment, knowledge of operating results and financial performance of Noodles & Company restaurants, methods of inventory control, storage, product handling, food cost and management, computer systems and software programs, and other information related to the development and operation of Noodles & Company restaurants included in the Operations Manual and other materials provided to the franchisee.
The franchisee and their owners must exert their best efforts to maintain the confidentiality of Noodles & Company's Confidential Information, implement reasonable procedures to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure, and ensure trainees execute confidentiality agreements before training. These measures suggest that Noodles & Company places a high priority on protecting its proprietary information and expects franchisees to actively participate in this protection.