What are franchisees prohibited from doing with Zoomin Groomin's Confidential Information?

According to the 2025 Zoomin Groomin FDD, franchisees are restricted from using the company's Confidential Information in specific ways, both during the term of the agreement and afterward. The definition of Confidential Information is broad, encompassing all data disclosed by Zoomin Groomin to the franchisee, including business processes, financial data, trade secrets, customer lists, agreements, manuals, operating materials, and know-how. This information is considered confidential regardless of whether it is explicitly marked as such.

The agreement explicitly states that franchisees cannot directly or indirectly communicate, divulge, or use any Confidential Information for the benefit of any other person, partnership, association, or corporation. The franchisee is only allowed to use the Confidential Information as authorized by Zoomin Groomin. This restriction is designed to protect Zoomin Groomin's proprietary information and maintain its competitive advantage.

Furthermore, franchisees are required to take reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized access to Confidential Information in their possession. This includes safeguarding physical documents and electronic data to ensure that unauthorized individuals or entities cannot access the information. However, information already in the franchisee's possession before receiving it from Zoomin Groomin, information that becomes public knowledge through no fault of the franchisee, or information rightfully received from a third party not bound by confidentiality is excluded from these restrictions. This ensures that franchisees are not unduly restricted from using information obtained from other legitimate sources.