What constitutes 'Improvements' that a Southern Steer franchisee must disclose?
Southern_Steer Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 15.7.
Improvements.
Franchisee will promptly disclose to Franchisor any changes, improvements, enhancements, advertisements or other marketing materials, inventions, discoveries, creations, patents, copyrights, trademarks, and confidential information relating to Franchisee's Southern Steer Business which Franchisee or any of Franchisee's owners, officers, employees, agents, affiliates, Designated Managers, or independent contractors has made or may make solely, jointly, or commonly with others ("Improvements").
Franchisee will promptly create a written record of the same.
Any changes, improvements, or enhancements made to the Southern Steer Business or the Marks, System, Confidential Information, Trade Secrets, Brand Manual, Website and other proprietary information provided to Franchisee by Franchisor made by Franchisee or any of Franchisee's owners, officers, employees, affiliates, agents, Designated Managers or independent contractors or as the result of suggestions or other input from Franchisee or any of Franchisee's owners, officers, employees, affiliates, agents, Designated Managers or independent contractors including without limitation, all copyrightable works, will become part of the Marks, System, Confidential Information, Trade Secrets, Brand Manual, Website and Franchisor's proprietary information owned by Franchisor without any rights of ownership by Franchisee.
Franchisee hereby assigns all proprietary rights described in this Section 15.7 to Franchisor without additional consideration.
Franchisee hereby assigns all proprietary rights described in this Section 15.7 to Franchisor without additional consideration.
Franchisee will execute such additional assignments or documentation to effectuate the assignment of these rights or as Franchisor deems necessary to enable it, at its expense, to apply for, prosecute, and obtain copyrights, trademarks, patents, or other proprietary rights in the United States and in other countries.
Franchisee hereby irrevocably appoints Franchisor as Franchisee attorney-in-fact for the purpose of executing such documents.
Franchisor will have the right to make Improvements available for use by all Southern Steer franchisees.
The expression "any changes, improvements, or enhancement" includes, without limitation, any methods or materials, such as ad copy, for advertising or marketing for the services and products of Franchisee's Southern Steer Business, as well as methods or materials for providing the services and products of Franchisee's Southern Steer Business or Other Businesses.
Source: Item 22 — ITEM. 22 CONTRACTS (FDD pages 61–168)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Southern Steer Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to promptly disclose any 'Improvements' related to their Southern Steer Business. These 'Improvements' encompass a broad range of items including changes, enhancements, advertisements, marketing materials, inventions, discoveries, creations, patents, copyrights, trademarks, and confidential information. This obligation extends to any such 'Improvements' made solely, jointly, or commonly with others by the franchisee or any of their owners, officers, employees, agents, affiliates, Designated Managers, or independent contractors. Franchisees must also create a written record of these improvements.
Any changes, improvements, or enhancements made to the Southern Steer Business, Marks, System, Confidential Information, Trade Secrets, Brand Manual, Website, or other proprietary information provided by Southern Steer automatically become the property of Southern Steer. This includes any copyrightable works resulting from suggestions or input from the franchisee or their associated parties. The franchisee assigns all proprietary rights to Southern Steer without any additional compensation.
Southern Steer retains the right to make these 'Improvements' available for use by all other Southern Steer franchisees. The term 'any changes, improvements, or enhancement' includes, without limitation, any methods or materials, such as ad copy, for advertising or marketing for the services and products of Franchisee's Southern Steer Business, as well as methods or materials for providing the services and products of Franchisee's Southern Steer Business or Other Businesses. This ensures that any advancements or innovations developed within the franchise network can be shared and implemented across all locations, benefiting the entire Southern Steer system.