Employee Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement Page 2 to a duty on the Company’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. During my employment and thereafter, I...
Employee Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement Page 1 EMPLOYEE NON-COMPETITION, NON-SOLICTATION OF EMPLOYEES, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AND INVENTIONS ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT (ARIZONA) In consideration of my employment or continued employment by Dutch Bros, Inc. or a direct or indirect subsidiary thereof (“Employer”), the compensation paid to me now and during my employment with Employer, and the Employer’s and its subsidiaries, parents, affiliates, successors and assigns (together with Employer, “Company”) agreement to provide me with access to its Confidential Information (as defined below), I enter into this Employee Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation of Employees, Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement with Employer (the “Agreement”). Accordingly, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, Employer (on behalf of itself and Company) and I agree as follows: 1. Confidential Information Protections. Recognition of Company’s Rights; Nondisclosure. My employment by Employer creates a relationship of confidence and trust with respect to Confidential Information (as defined below) and Company has a protectable interest in the Confidential Information. I agree that I will hold in confidence and will not disclose, use, lecture upon, or publish any Confidential Information, except as required in connection with my work for Company, or as approved in writing by an officer of Company. I will obtain written approval by an officer of Company before I lecture on or submit for publication any material (written, oral, or otherwise) that discloses and/or incorporates any Confidential Information. I will take all reasonable precautions to prevent the disclosure of Confidential Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1833(b), I will not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that: (1) is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official, either directly or indirectly, or to an attorney, and solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (2) is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal. I agree that Company information or documentation to which I have access during my employment, regardless of whether it contains Confidential Information, is the property of Company and cannot be downloaded or retained for my personal use or for any use that is outside the scope of my duties for Company. Confidential Information. “Confidential Information” means any and all confidential knowledge or data of Company, and includes any confidential knowledge or data that Company has received, or receives in the future, from third parties that Company has agreed to treat as confidential and to use for only certain limited purposes. By way of illustration but not limitation, Confidential Information includes (a) trade secrets, inventions, ideas, processes, formulas, software in source or object code, data, technology, know-how, designs and techniques, and any other work product of any nature, and all Intellectual Property Rights (defined below) in all of the foregoing (collectively, “Inventions”), including all Company Inventions (defined in Section 2.1); (b) information regarding research, development, new products, business and operational plans, budgets, unpublished financial statements and projections, costs, margins, discounts, credit terms, pricing, quoting procedures, future plans and strategies, capital-raising plans, internal services, suppliers and supplier information; (c) information about customers and potential customers of Company, including customer lists, names, representatives, their needs or desires with respect to the types of products or services offered by Company, and other non-public information; (d) information about Company’s business partners and their services, including names, representatives, proposals, bids, contracts, and the products and services they provide; (e) information regarding personnel, employee lists, compensation, and employee skills; and (f) any other non-public information that a competitor of Company could use to Company’s competitive disadvantage. However, Company agrees that I am free to use information that I knew prior to my employment with Company or that is, at the time of use, generally known in the trade or industry through no breach of this Agreement by me. Company further agrees that this Agreement does not limit my right to discuss my employment or unlawful acts in Company’s workplace, including but not limited to sexual harassment, or report possible violations of law or regulation with any federal, state or local government agency, or to discuss the terms and conditions of my employment with others to the extent expressly permitted by Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act, or to the extent that such disclosure is protected under the applicable provisions of law or regulation, including but not limited to “whistleblower” statutes or other similar provisions that protect such disclosure, to the extent any such rights are not permitted by applicable law to be the subject of nondisclosure obligations. Third Party Information. I understand, in addition, that the Company has received and in the future will receive from third parties their confidential and/or proprietary knowledge, data or information (“Third Party Information”) subject Exhibit 10.1
Employee Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement Page 2 to a duty on the Company’s part to maintain the confidentiality of such information and to use it only for certain limited purposes. During my employment and thereafter, I will hold Third Party Information in confidence and will not disclose to anyone (other than Company personnel who need to know such information in connection with their work for the Company) or use, except in connection with my work for the Company, Third Party Information unless expressly authorized by an officer of the Company in writing. Term of Nondisclosure Restrictions. I will only use or disclose Confidential Information as provided in this Section 1 and I agree that the restrictions in Section 1.1 are intended to continue indefinitely, even after my employment by Company ends. However, if a time limitation on my obligation not to use or disclose Confidential Information is required under applicable law, and the Agreement or its restriction(s) cannot otherwise be enforced, Company and I agree that the five year period after the date my employment ends will be the time limitation relevant to the contested restriction; provided, however, that my obligation not to disclose or use trade secrets that are protected without time limitation under applicable law shall continue indefinitely. No Improper Use of Information of Prior Employers and Others. During my employment by Company, I will not improperly use or disclose confidential information or trade secrets, if any, of any former employer or any other person to whom I have an obligation of confidentiality, and I will not bring onto Company’s premises any unpublished documents or property belonging to a former employer or any other person to whom I have an obligation of confidentiality unless that former employer or person has consented in writing. 2. Assignments of Inventions. Definitions. The term (a) “Intellectual Property Rights” means all past, present and future rights of the following types, which may exist or be created under the laws of any jurisdiction in the world: trade secrets, Copyrights, trademark and trade name rights, mask work rights, patents and industrial property, and all proprietary rights in technology or works of authorship (including, in each case, any application for any such rights, all rights to priority, and any rights to apply for any such rights, as well as all rights to pursue remedies for infringement or violation of any such rights); (b) “Copyright” means the exclusive legal right to reproduce, perform, display, distribute and make derivative works of a work of authorship (for example, a literary, musical, or artistic work) recognized by the laws of any jurisdiction in the world; (c) “Moral Rights” means all paternity, integrity, disclosure, withdrawal, special and similar rights recognized by the laws of any jurisdiction in the world; and (d) “Company Inventions” means any and all Inventions (and all Intellectual Property Rights related to Inventions) that are made, conceived, developed, prepared, produced, authored, edited, amended, reduced to practice, or learned or set out in any tangible medium of expression or otherwise created, in whole or in part, by me, either alone or with others, during my employment by Employer, and all printed, physical, and electronic copies, and other tangible embodiments of Inventions. Non-Assignable Inventions. I recognize that this Agreement will not be deemed to require assignment of any Invention that I develop entirely on my own time without using Company’s equipment, supplies, facilities or trade secrets, or Confidential Information, except for Inventions that either (i) relate to Company’s actual or anticipated business, research or development, or (ii) result from or are connected with any work performed by me for Company (“Nonassignable Inventions”). In addition, this Agreement does not apply to any Invention which qualifies fully for protection from assignment to Company under any specifically applicable state law, regulation, rule or public policy. Prior Inventions. On the signature page to this Agreement is a list describing any Inventions that (i) are owned by me or in which I have an interest and that were made or acquired by me prior to my date of first employment by Company, and (ii) may relate to Company’s business or actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, and (iii) are not to be assigned to Company (“Prior Inventions”). If no such list is attached, I represent and warrant that no Inventions that would be classified as Prior Inventions exist as of the date of this Agreement. I agree that if I use any Prior Inventions and/or Nonassignable Inventions in the scope of my employment, or if I include any Prior Inventions and/or Nonassignable Inventions in any product or service of Company, or if my rights in any Prior Inventions and/or any Nonassignable Inventions may block or interfere with, or may otherwise be required for, the exercise by Company of any rights assigned to Company under this Agreement (each, a “License Event”), (i) I will immediately notify Company in writing, and (ii) unless Company and I agree otherwise in writing, I
Employee Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement Page 3 hereby grant to Company a non-exclusive, perpetual, transferable, fully-paid, royalty-free, irrevocable, worldwide license, with rights to sublicense through multiple levels of sublicensees, to reproduce, make derivative works of, distribute, publicly perform, and publicly display in any form or medium (whether now known or later developed), make, have made, use, sell, import, offer for sale, and exercise any and all present or future rights in, such Prior Inventions and/or Nonassignable Inventions. To the extent that any third parties have any rights in or to any Prior Inventions or any Nonassignable Inventions, I represent and warrant that such third party or parties have validly and irrevocably granted to me the right to grant the license stated above. For purposes of this paragraph, “Prior Inventions” includes any Inventions that would be classified as Prior Inventions, whether or not they are listed on the signature page to this Agreement. Assignment of Company Inventions. I hereby assign to Employer all my right, title, and interest in and to any and all Company Inventions other than Nonassignable Inventions and agree that such assignment includes an assignment of all Moral Rights. To the extent such Moral Rights cannot be assigned to Employer and to the extent the following is allowed by the laws in any country where Moral Rights exist, I hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waive the enforcement of such Moral Rights, and all claims and causes of action of any kind against Employer or related to Employer’s customers, with respect to such rights. I further agree that neither my successors-in-interest nor legal heirs retain any Moral Rights in any Company Inventions. Nothing contained in this Agreement may be construed to reduce or limit Company’s rights, title, or interest in any Company Inventions so as to be less in any respect than that Company would have had in the absence of this Agreement. Obligation to Keep Company Informed. During my employment by Company, I will promptly and fully disclose to Company in writing all Inventions that I author, conceive, or reduce to practice, either alone or jointly with others. At the time of each disclosure, I will advise Company in writing of any Inventions that I believe constitute Nonassignable Inventions; and I will at that time provide to Company in writing all evidence necessary to substantiate my belief. Subject to Section 2.3(b), Company agrees to keep in confidence, not use for any purpose, and not disclose to third parties without my consent, any confidential information relating to Nonassignable Inventions that I disclose in writing to Company. Government or Third Party. I agree that, as directed by Company, I will assign to a third party, including without limitation the United States, all my right, title, and interest in and to any particular Company Invention. Ownership of Work Product. I acknowledge that all original works of authorship that are made by me (solely or jointly with others) within the scope of my employment and that are protectable by Copyright are “works made for hire,” pursuant to United States Copyright Act (17 U.S.C., Section 101). Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights and Assistance. I will assist Company, in every way Company requests, including signing, verifying and delivering any documents and performing any other acts, to obtain and enforce United States and foreign Intellectual Property Rights and Moral Rights relating to Company Inventions in any jurisdictions in the world. My obligation to assist Company with respect to Intellectual Property Rights relating to Company Inventions will continue beyond the termination of my employment, but Company will compensate me at a reasonable rate after such termination for the time I actually spend on such assistance. If Company is unable for any reason, after reasonable effort, to secure my signature on any document needed in connection with the actions specified in this paragraph, I hereby irrevocably designate and appoint Employer and its duly authorized officers and agents as my agent and attorney in fact, which appointment is coupled with an interest, to act for and on my behalf to execute, verify and file any such documents and to do all other lawfully permitted acts to further the purposes of this Agreement with the same legal force and effect as if executed by me. I hereby waive and quitclaim to Company any and all claims, of any nature whatsoever, which I now or may hereafter have for infringement of any Intellectual Property Rights assigned to Employer under this Agreement. Incorporation of Software Code. I agree not to incorporate into any Inventions, including any Company software, or otherwise deliver to Company, any software code licensed under the GNU General Public License, Lesser General Public License, or any other license that, by its terms, requires or conditions the use or distribution of such code on the disclosure, licensing, or distribution of any source code owned or licensed by Company, except in strict compliance with Company’s policies regarding the use of such software or as directed by Company. 3. Records. I agree to keep and maintain adequate and current records (in the form of notes, sketches, drawings and in any other form that is required by Company) of all Confidential Information developed by me and all Company Inventions
Employee Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement Page 4 made by me during the period of my employment at Company, which records will be available to and remain the sole property of Employer at all times. 4. Duty of Loyalty During Employment. During my employment by Company, I will not, without Company’s written consent, directly or indirectly engage in any employment or business activity that is directly or indirectly competitive with, or would otherwise conflict with, my employment by Company. 5. No Solicitation of Employees and Consultants. I agree that during the period of my employment and for the 12- month period after the date my employment ends for any reason, including but not limited to voluntary termination by me or involuntary termination by Company, I will not, as an officer, director, employee, consultant, owner, partner, or in any other capacity, either directly or through others, except on behalf of Company, solicit, induce, encourage, or participate in soliciting, inducing or encouraging any Covered Employee, Consultant, or Independent Contractor of Company to terminate his, her or its relationship with Company, even if I did not initiate the discussion or seek out the contact. “Covered Employee, Consultant, or Independent Contractor” means someone with whom I worked, with whom I had supervisory responsibilities, someone who I received Confidential Information about, or someone I had material business-related contact or dealings with during the Look Back Period. “Look Back Period” means the last two years of my employment (or such shorter period of time as I am employed). 6. Non-Competition Provision. In order to protect the Company’s Confidential Information (including trade secrets) and key business relationships, I agree that for a period that is the greater of (a) one (1) year after my employment ends (irrespective of which party ends the relationship or why it ends), or (b) the duration of any period that I am receiving continuing severance payments from the Company (up to a maximum of two (2) years), I will not: provide services for the benefit of a Competing Business within the Territory (terms separately defined below) that are the same or similar in function or purpose to those I provided to the Employer during the Look Back Period; or, take on any other responsibilities for a Competing Business that would involve the probable use or disclosure of Confidential Information to the benefit of a Competing Business or detriment of the Company. “Competing Business” means any person or entity that engages in (or is planning to engage in) a business that competes with a portion of the Company Business that I had involvement with or access to Confidential Information about during the Look Back Period, which includes, the following entities: 7 Brew, 151 Coffee, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Coffee, Beans and Brews, Better Buzz, Biggby, Black Rock Coffee Bar, HTeaO, Human Bean, Scooter’s Coffee, Swig, ▇▇▇▇▇’s Coffee, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonald’s, Panera Bread, Black Rifle Coffee, Caribou Coffee, Peet’s, Stumptown, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, ▇▇▇▇ Brothers and Blue Bottle. “Territory” means the geographic territory(ies) assigned to me by the Company during the Look Back Period (by state, county, or other recognized geographic boundary used in the Company’s business); and, if I have no such specifically assigned geographic territory then those states, counties, or cities in which the Company does business that I participated in and/or about which I was provided access to Confidential Information during the Look Back Period. I acknowledge that the Company conducts business across the United States. I am responsible for seeking clarification from the Company’s Chief Executive Officer if it is unclear to meat any time what the scope of the Territory is. State and county references include equivalents. 7. No Conflicting Agreement or Obligation. I represent that my performance of all the terms of this Agreement and as an employee of Company does not and will not breach any agreement to keep in confidence information acquired by me in confidence or in trust prior to my employment by Company. I have not entered into, and I agree I will not enter into, any written or oral agreement in conflict with this Agreement. 8. Return of Company Property. When I cease to be employed by Company, I will deliver to Company any and all materials, together with all copies thereof, containing or disclosing any Company Inventions, or Confidential Information. I will not copy, delete, or alter any information contained upon my Company computer or Company equipment before I return it to Company. In addition, if I have used any personal computer, server, or e-mail system to receive, store, review, prepare or transmit any Company information, including but not limited to, Confidential Information, I agree to provide Company with a computer-useable copy of all such information and then permanently delete such information from those systems; and I agree to provide Company access to my system as reasonably requested to verify that the necessary copying and/or deletion is completed. I further agree that any property situated on Company’s premises and owned by Company, including disks and other storage media, filing cabinets or other work areas, is subject to inspection by Company’s personnel at any time during my employment, with or without notice. Prior to leaving, I hereby agree to: provide Company any and
Employee Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement Page 5 all information needed to access any Company property or information returned or required to be returned pursuant to this paragraph, including without limitation any login, password, and account information; cooperate with Company in attending an exit interview; and complete and sign Company’s termination statement if required to do so by Company. 9. Legal and Equitable Remedies. I agree that it may be impossible to assess the damages caused by my violation of this Agreement or any of its terms. I agree that any threatened or actual violation of this Agreement or any of its terms will constitute immediate and irreparable injury to the Company, and the Company will have the right to enforce this Agreement and any of its provisions by injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief, without bond and without prejudice to any other rights and remedies that the Company may have for a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement. Except as prohibited by law, I agree that if the Company is successful in whole or in part in any legal or equitable action under this Agreement (including, but not limited to, a court partially or fully granting any application, motion, or petition by the Company for injunctive relief, including, but not limited to, a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, or permanent injunction), whether against or commenced by me, the Company will be entitled to recover from me all costs, fees, or expenses it incurred at any time during the course of the dispute, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney’s fees. A final resolution of such dispute or a final judgment is not a prerequisite to the Company’s right to demand payment hereunder and such amounts must be paid by me to the Company within thirty (30) days after I receive written notice of such demand. In the event the Company demands only a portion of such costs, fees, or expenses incurred, such demand shall be without prejudice to further demands for (i) the remainder of any outstanding costs, fees, or expenses incurred, or (ii) costs, fees, or expenses incurred after the prior demand. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this provision, the Company and I shall equally share any fees charged by an arbitral body (e.g., JAMS). 10. Notices. Any notices required or permitted under this Agreement will be given to Company at its headquarters location at the time notice is given, labeled “Attention Chief Executive Officer” (or in the case of the CEO providing notice, to the Chair of the Board of Directors) and to me at my address as listed on Company payroll, or at such other address as Company or I may designate by written notice to the other. Notice will be effective upon receipt or refusal of delivery. If delivered by certified or registered mail, notice will be considered to have been given five business days after it was mailed, as evidenced by the postmark. If delivered by courier or express mail service, notice will be considered to have been given on the delivery date reflected by the courier or express mail service receipt. 11. General Provisions. Governing Law; Consent to Personal Jurisdiction. This Agreement will be governed by and construed according to the laws of the state of Arizona. I expressly consent to the personal jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in the state of Arizona. Severability. In case any one or more of the provisions, subsections, or sentences contained in this Agreement will, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect the other provisions of this Agreement, and this Agreement will be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained in this Agreement. If moreover, any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement will for any reason be held to be excessively broad as to duration, geographical scope, activity or subject, the reviewing court can blue pencil or sever any provisions so as to be enforceable. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is for my benefit and the benefit of the Company, its successors, assigns, parent corporations, subsidiaries, affiliates, and purchasers, and will be binding upon my heirs, executors, administrators and other legal representatives. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company may assign this Agreement and its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the Company’s relevant assets, whether by merger, consolidation, reorganization, reincorporation, sale of assets or stock, or otherwise. For avoidance of doubt, the Company’s successors and assigns are authorized to enforce the Company’s rights under this Agreement. Survival. This Agreement will survive the termination of my employment, regardless of the reason, and the assignment of this Agreement by Company to any successor in interest or other assignee.
Employee Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement Page 6 Employment At-Will. I understand and agree that nothing in this Agreement will change my at-will employment status or confer any right with respect to continuation of employment by Company, nor will it interfere in any way with my right or Company’s right to terminate my employment at any time, with or without cause or advance notice, except as prohibited by law. Waiver. No waiver by Company of any breach of this Agreement will be a waiver of any preceding or succeeding breach. No waiver by Company of any right under this Agreement will be construed as a waiver of any other right. Company will not be required to give notice to enforce strict adherence to all terms of this Agreement. Export. I agree not to export, reexport, or transfer, directly or indirectly, any U.S. technical data acquired from Company or any products utilizing such data, in violation of the United States export laws or regulations. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or other applicable law) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered will be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes. Advice of Counsel. I ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, IN EXECUTING THIS AGREEMENT, I HAVE HAD THE RIGHT TO SEEK THE ADVICE OF INDEPENDENT LEGAL COUNSEL, AND I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD ALL OF THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE CONSTRUED AGAINST ANY PARTY BY REASON OF THE DRAFTING OR PREPARATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. Entire Agreement. The obligations in Sections 1 and 2 (except Section 2.2 with respect to a consulting relationship) of this Agreement will apply to any time during which I was previously engaged, or am in the future engaged, by Company as a consultant, employee or other service provider if no other agreement governs nondisclosure and assignment of inventions during such period. This Agreement, together with any executed written offer letter between me and the Company, is the final, complete and exclusive agreement between me and the Company with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersedes, replaces, and merges all prior discussions between us, whether written or oral, including but not limited to the Employee Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement I signed on November 9, 2022. No modification of or amendment to this Agreement will be effective unless in writing and signed by the party to be charged. Any subsequent change or changes in my duties, salary or compensation will not affect the validity or scope of this Agreement. Protected Activity Not Prohibited. I understand that nothing in this Agreement limits or prohibits me from filing a charge or complaint with, or otherwise communicating or cooperating with or participating in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by, any federal, state or local government agency or commission, including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the National Labor Relations Board (“Government Agencies”), including disclosing documents or other information as permitted by law, without giving notice to, or receiving authorization from, the Company, discussing the terms and conditions of my employment with others to the extent expressly permitted by Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (such as the right of employees to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection), unless the information is entrusted to me in confidence by the Company as part of my job duties or I am employed in a supervisor or management level position. Notwithstanding, in making any such disclosures or communications, I agree to take all reasonable precautions to prevent any unauthorized use or disclosure of any information that may constitute Company Confidential Information to any parties other than the Government Agencies. I further understand that I am not permitted to disclose the Company’s attorney-client privileged communications or attorney work product. [Signatures to follow on next page]
Employee Confidential Information and Inventions Assignment Agreement This Agreement will be effective as of the date signed by the Employee below. EMPLOYER: EMPLOYEE: (Signature) (Signature) (Printed Name) (Printed Name) (Title) (Date Signed) PRIOR INVENTIONS 1. Prior Inventions Disclosure. Except as listed in Section 2 below, the following is a complete list of all Prior Inventions: No Prior Inventions. See below: Additional sheets attached. 2. Due to a prior confidentiality agreement, I cannot complete the disclosure under Section 1 above with respect to the Prior Inventions generally listed below, the intellectual property rights and duty of confidentiality with respect to which I owe to the following party(ies): Excluded Invention Party(ies) Relationship 1. 2. 3. Additional sheets attached. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Tullett Chief Legal Officer & Secretary X July 30, 2025 /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇