For a Southern Steer franchise, does the definition of 'Confidential Information' include plans and specifications relating to construction?
Southern_Steer Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Confidential Information. "Confidential Information" will mean and include all of the business, technology, marketing, operational, and proprietary information developed, created, owned or licensed by the Franchisor including, but not limited to, the following: (a) all plans and specifications relating to the construction of any Southern Steer Business, drawings and renderings, FF&E specifications and pricing, the names of all Approved Suppliers and Designated Suppliers, pricing information for any Foods, Beverages and Products sold to any Southern Steer Business, unpublished menus and menu designs, and all food recipes and cooking techniques, (b) all business information, financial data and information, practices, procedures, processes, "know how" and business and operational systems of the Franchisor, (c) all marketing strategies, programs, and concepts, training programs, Brand Manual and materials, and operational and business development concepts, including but not limited to all store design, schematics, construction documents, and artwork, (d) all exclusive sales and marketing processes taught to the Franchisee's personnel during any training programs, (e) all training programs and materials, (f) all Trade Secrets, intellectual property, proprietary databases, computer processes, computer systems, computer software programs and all source codes for all computer software programs (excluding commercially available off-the-shelf third-party software programs), (g) all copyrighted materials that have not been publicly disclosed by the Franchisor which are marked as "confidential," (h) all patents of the Franchisor, including pending patents, (i) all password-protected websites designed, created and developed by the Franchisor, including all passwords, text, content, color schemes, images, graphics, information, look and feel, layout, methodology, metrics, graphical interfaces and functionality, and (j) all other written materials disclosed to the Franchisee which have been designated as "confidential" by the Franchisor.
Source: Item 22 — ITEM. 22 CONTRACTS (FDD pages 61–168)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Southern Steer's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the definition of 'Confidential Information' includes plans and specifications relating to construction. This means that as a franchisee, you are obligated to protect the confidentiality of these documents. Unauthorized disclosure could lead to legal repercussions.
The definition of Confidential Information encompasses all business, technology, marketing, operational, and proprietary information developed, created, owned, or licensed by Southern Steer. This includes, but is not limited to, plans and specifications relating to the construction of any Southern Steer Business, drawings and renderings, FF&E specifications and pricing, the names of all Approved Suppliers and Designated Suppliers, pricing information for any Foods, Beverages and Products sold to any Southern Steer Business, unpublished menus and menu designs, and all food recipes and cooking techniques.
This obligation extends to all business information, financial data, practices, procedures, processes, know-how, and business and operational systems of Southern Steer, as well as marketing strategies, training programs, and store design. Franchisees must also protect exclusive sales and marketing processes taught during training, trade secrets, intellectual property, proprietary databases, computer systems and software, copyrighted materials, patents, and password-protected websites.
Southern Steer takes protection of its Confidential Information seriously, and franchisees must ensure that they, their employees, and agents do not disclose any such information to unauthorized parties. This obligation extends beyond the term of the franchise agreement.