Are the Petro Stopping Center Manuals considered confidential?
Petro_Stopping_Center Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 7.1 Manuals. We will loan you during the Term, one copy of the Manuals. The Manuals may be provided to you in electronic form and by any means of e-commerce we designate. The Manuals will contain, among other things, Petro System Standards that we prescribe from time to time for the operation of a Petro Center and information relating to your other obligations under this Agreement and related agreements. You agree to follow the standards, specifications and operating procedures we establish or revise periodically for the Petro System as described in the Manuals. You also must comply with all updates and amendments to the Petro System as described in newsletters or notices we distribute, including via computer systems. You must maintain the Manuals as confidential and maintain the information in the Manuals as secret and confidential. The Manuals may be modified, updated and revised from time to time to reflect changes in Petro System Standards. You agree to keep your copy of the Manuals (in hard copy or electronic form) current and in a secure location and by secure means at the Petro Center. In the event of a dispute relating to its contents, the master copy of the Manuals we maintain at our principal office (or if via e-commerce, on our Computer System) will be controlling. You may not at any time copy, duplicate, record or otherwise reproduce any part of the Manuals. If your copy of the Manuals is lost, destroyed or significantly damaged, you agree to obtain a replacement copy at our then applicable charge.
Source: Item 14 — Other investments (FDD pages 131–208)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Petro Stopping Center Franchise Disclosure Document, the manuals provided to franchisees are considered confidential. Petro Stopping Center will loan one copy of the manuals to the franchisee during the term of the agreement, and these manuals contain Petro System Standards for operating a Petro Center, along with other obligations under the franchise agreement.
The franchisee must keep the manuals confidential and maintain the information within them as secret and confidential. Petro Stopping Center may modify, update, and revise the manuals periodically to reflect changes in Petro System Standards. The franchisee is responsible for keeping their copy of the manuals current and secure at the Petro Center. In case of a dispute, the master copy of the manuals maintained by Petro Stopping Center will be controlling.
The franchisee is prohibited from copying, duplicating, recording, or reproducing any part of the manuals. If the franchisee's copy is lost, destroyed, or significantly damaged, they must obtain a replacement copy at Petro Stopping Center's then-applicable charge. This underscores the importance of safeguarding the manuals and adhering to the confidentiality requirements to protect Petro Stopping Center's proprietary information and maintain the integrity of the Petro System.