Is a Cinnabon franchisee permitted to contest Cinnabon's ownership of the Marks during the term of the agreement?

According to the 2025 Cinnabon Franchise Disclosure Document, Cinnabon franchisees are prohibited from contesting Cinnabon's rights to its intellectual property. Specifically, during the term of the agreement and even after its expiration or termination, franchisees cannot directly or indirectly challenge Cinnabon's ownership, title, right, or interest in the Marks. This also extends to copyrights, recipes, trade secrets, methods, or procedures that are part of the Cinnabon system. Franchisees also cannot contest Cinnabon's sole right to register, use, or license others to use the intellectual property.

This provision is standard in franchising to protect the brand's intellectual property. Cinnabon maintains the right to modify its Marks, recipes, and other intellectual property, and franchisees must implement these changes at their own expense within a reasonable timeframe specified by Cinnabon.

Furthermore, Cinnabon franchisees are obligated to promptly notify Cinnabon of any unauthorized use of its intellectual property or any challenges to the validity of Cinnabon's ownership or right to license its intellectual property. This ensures that Cinnabon can take appropriate action to protect its brand and system.