What is an Atwell Suites franchisee prohibited from doing with the Services, Software, or Intellectual Property regarding third-party access or use?
Atwell_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
s concerning the protection, transport, storage, use and processing of data (including the General Data Protection Regulation ((EU) 2016/679), as amended ("GDPR") and any national implementing Laws, regulations and secondary legislation, as amended from time to time, and any successor legislation to the GDPR in effect from time to time); and (e) all applicable Laws in effect from time to time similar to those Laws listed in subsections (a) through (d) above or otherwise governing the transmission, storage, distribution, sale, or other use of Personal Data.
"Tax" means any income, gross receipts, franchise, sales, use, transfer, value-added, excise, customs, duties, property, withholding or any other tax, charge, or fee, including any interest, penalties, or other additions to tax, imposed by a governmental authority.
"Transaction" means each of (i) an on-line authorization request, (ii) a captured request that does not have a corresponding on-line authorization (examples include verbal authorizations, below floor limit or offline requests), (iii) a return request, and (vi) a void request.
2.0 SERVICE FRAMEWORK.
- 2.1 Next-Gen Payments Solution. During the Term, IHG will provide to Hotel the Next-Gen Payments Solution pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
- 2.2 Right to Use the Next-Gen Payments Solution. During the Term, IHG hereby grants Hotel a limited, personal, revocable, nonexclusive, and non-transferable right to access and use the Next-Gen Payments Solution solely for the internal business purposes of Hotel and subject to the terms of this Agreement, including the Third Party Terms.
- 2.3 Restrictions on Use. Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, Hotel shall not, and shall not permit any third party to: (a) transmit the Next-Gen Payments Solution to any third party or third party network, or permit any third party to access or use the Next-Gen Payments Solution; (b) use the Next-Gen Payments Solution, or any data derived from the Next-Gen Payments Solution, in a service bureau, time-sharing, multiple CPU, or multiple user arrangement; (c) copy, reproduce, store, sell, assign, pledge, sublicense, convey, transfer, redistribute, transmit, grant other rights in, or permit any unauthorized use of the Next-Gen Payments Solution; (d) prepare derivative works or incorporate the Next-Gen Payments Solution, in whole or part, into any other system or work; (e) reverse engineer, disassemble, decompile, decode, adapt or otherwise attempt to derive or gain access to the source code of the Next-Gen Payments Solution, in whole or in part; (f) bypass or breach any security device or protection used by the Next-Gen Payments Solution or access or use the Next-Gen Payments Solution other than by an authorized user through the use of his or her own then valid access credentials; (g) input, upload, transmit, or otherwise provide to or through the Next-Gen Payments Solution, any information or materials that are unlawful or injurious, or contain, transmit, or activate any harmful code; (h) remove, delete, alter, or obscure any warranties or disclaimers, or any Intellectual Property Rights notices from the Next-Gen Payments Solution, including any copy thereof; (i) access or use the Next-Gen Payments Solution in any manner or for any purpose that infringes, misappropriates, or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property Rights or other rights of any third party, or that violates any applicable Law; or (j) otherwise access or use the Next-Gen Payments Solution beyond the scope of the authorization granted under this Agreement, including the Third Party Terms.
- 2.4 Third Party Terms. Hotel shall comply with the terms and conditions set forth in Attachment 1 (Third Party Terms – FreedomPay) and Attachment 2 (Third Party Terms – HPFS) to this Agreement (collectively, the "Third Party Terms").
3.0 FEES, INVOICING, AND PAYMENTS.
3.1 Fees. The fees for the Next-Gen Payments Solution provided under this Agreement are set forth on the cover page of this Agreement. In addition, if a scheduled implementation is not completed and reserved resources are not utilized due to Hotel's action or inaction, Hotel will pay a reschedule fee. The obligation of Hotel to pay all fees is absolute and unconditional and, except as expressly provided, shall not be subject to any abatement, deferment, reduction, defense, counterclaim, set-off, or recoupment.
- 3.2 Invoicing and Payment.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 99–486)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Atwell Suites' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees face several restrictions regarding third-party access and use of the Next-Gen Payments Solution and the PMS Solution. Specifically, franchisees cannot transmit the Next-Gen Payments Solution or the PMS Solution to any third party or network, nor can they allow third parties to access or use these solutions, except for designated users of the PMS Solution.
Additionally, Atwell Suites franchisees are prohibited from using the Next-Gen Payments Solution or data derived from it in a service bureau, time-sharing, or multiple-user arrangement. They cannot copy, reproduce, store, sell, sublicense, transfer, or redistribute the Next-Gen Payments Solution or the PMS Solution, or grant unauthorized use of it. Creating derivative works or incorporating these solutions into other systems is also forbidden.
Furthermore, franchisees are restricted from actions such as reverse engineering, disassembling, or attempting to access the source code of the Next-Gen Payments Solution or the PMS Solution. They must not bypass security measures, input unlawful materials, remove intellectual property notices, or use the solutions in any way that infringes on intellectual property rights. These restrictions ensure that Atwell Suites maintains control over its proprietary systems and protects its intellectual property, while also limiting the franchisee's ability to leverage the technology for external commercial purposes.