Does Pump It Up own any patents material to the Franchised Business or System?
Pump_It_Up Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We do not own any patents that are material to your Franchised Business or the System. We claim trade secret and copyright protection for our Manuals, the trade dress, and certain business forms, architectural, engineering and construction plans, advertising materials, product specifications, computer programs, newsletters, training materials and operations and accounting materials. We have not registered those materials with the United States Copyright Office. You may use these items only in the way we specify and only while operating your Franchised Business.
The Manuals and these other materials contain the System Standards, which include mandatory and suggested specifications, best practices, standards, operating procedures, and rules that we periodically prescribe for operating a Pump It Up Business, as well as information on your other obligations under the Franchise Agreement. Our Manuals and other materials also contain Confidential Information (as defined
below) consisting of the instructions, methods, and techniques used in the key management areas of Pump It Up Businesses including marketing and promotion, daily operations, personnel, and financial management. We may modify the Manuals periodically to reflect changes in System Standards. The contents of all versions of the Manuals are confidential, regardless of whether it is currently utilized by us, and constitute our trade secrets. You may not disclose the Manuals to any person other than employees or agents of the Franchised Business who need to know its contents. You may not at any time copy, duplicate, record, or otherwise reproduce any part of the Manuals without first obtaining our written consent to do so.
Source: Item 14 — PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 45–46)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Pump It Up FDD, Pump It Up does not own any patents that are material to the franchised business or the System. However, Pump It Up does claim trade secret and copyright protection for its manuals, trade dress, certain business forms, architectural, engineering and construction plans, advertising materials, product specifications, computer programs, newsletters, training materials, and operations and accounting materials.
Pump It Up has not registered these materials with the United States Copyright Office. Franchisees are allowed to use these items only as specified by Pump It Up and only while operating their franchised business. These manuals and other materials contain System Standards, which include mandatory and suggested specifications, best practices, standards, operating procedures, and rules that Pump It Up periodically prescribes for operating a Pump It Up Business.
The manuals also contain confidential information consisting of instructions, methods, and techniques used in key management areas, including marketing and promotion, daily operations, personnel, and financial management. Pump It Up may modify the manuals periodically to reflect changes in System Standards, and the contents of all versions of the manuals are confidential and constitute trade secrets. Franchisees may not disclose the manuals to anyone other than employees or agents who need to know its contents, and franchisees may not copy or reproduce any part of the manuals without written consent.