What is Cinnabon's definition of 'Innovations' in relation to a Bakery or the System?
Cinnabon Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
All ideas, concepts, techniques, or materials relating to a Bakery or the System or derivations or modifications of our intellectual property or any other element of the System (collectively, "Innovations"), whether or not protectable intellectual property and whether created by or for you or your Owners, employees, or contractors, must be promptly disclosed to us and will be deemed to be our sole and exclusive property, part of the System, and works made-for-hire for us. To the extent any Innovation does not qualify as a work made-for-hire for us, you must assign ownership of that Innovation, and all related rights to that Innovation, to us and agree to sign (and to cause your Owners, employees, and contractors to sign) whatever assignment or other documents we request to evidence our ownership or to help us obtain intellectual property rights in the Innovation. We and our affiliates have no obligation to make any payments to you or any other person with respect to any Innovations. You may not use any Innovation in operating the Bakery or otherwise without our prior approval.
Source: Item 14 — Patents, Copyrights, and Proprietary Information (FDD pages 89–91)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cinnabon's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, 'Innovations' encompass all ideas, concepts, techniques, or materials related to a Cinnabon Bakery or the Cinnabon system. This definition extends to derivations or modifications of Cinnabon's intellectual property or any other element of the system. This definition applies whether or not the innovation is protectable under intellectual property law.
This definition includes innovations created by or for the franchisee, their owners, employees, or contractors. Franchisees must promptly disclose any such innovations to Cinnabon. All innovations are deemed Cinnabon's sole and exclusive property, considered part of the Cinnabon system, and classified as works made-for-hire for Cinnabon.
To the extent that any innovation does not qualify as a work made-for-hire, the franchisee must assign ownership of the innovation and all related rights to Cinnabon. The franchisee must also ensure that their owners, employees, and contractors sign any assignment or other documents Cinnabon requests to evidence its ownership or to help it obtain intellectual property rights in the innovation. Cinnabon and its affiliates have no obligation to make any payments to the franchisee or any other person with respect to any innovations. Franchisees may not use any innovation in operating the Bakery or otherwise without Cinnabon's prior approval.