Is the Brain Balance franchisee allowed to decompile or reverse engineer the software?

Based on the 2025 Brain Balance Franchise Disclosure Document, there is no explicit mention of franchisees being prohibited from decompiling or reverse engineering the software. However, the document states that franchisees will be licensed the software under an Application License Agreement, as detailed in Section 15. The absence of a direct prohibition does not automatically grant permission. The terms of the Application License Agreement, which are not fully detailed in the provided excerpts, would govern the franchisee's usage rights and restrictions regarding the software. It is standard practice for software licenses to include clauses that prevent reverse engineering or decompilation to protect intellectual property.

Given that Brain Balance provides franchisees with Licensed Technology and software critical to the Brain Balance Program, it is highly probable that the Application License Agreement contains clauses restricting reverse engineering or decompilation. These restrictions are typically put in place to protect the franchisor's proprietary information and maintain the integrity of the system.

A prospective Brain Balance franchisee should carefully review Section 15 and the Application License Agreement to fully understand the scope of permitted software use and any restrictions on modifying or analyzing the software. It would be prudent to seek clarification from the franchisor regarding whether reverse engineering or decompilation is permitted under any circumstances. Understanding these terms is crucial for ensuring compliance and avoiding potential breaches of the franchise agreement.